Jacqui donates pay to university’s Covid fund

Jacqui McAllister from Carnlough, who teaches full-time at the Northern Regional College’s Newtownabbey campus, admitted her family were “horrified” when she told them that she’d be working on the frontline, but felt it was something she had to do.

She joins dozens of students from the college working as healthcare assistants in hospitals, nursing homes and in the local community during the pandemic.

The mother-of-one said: “How could I teach my students about compassion and courage if I wasn’t prepared to do it myself?”

“We’re all in this together and, by stepping up myself, I hope I’m modelling best practice to my students. With so many of them working on the frontline, it’s only right that I should do the same.’’

Jacqui added: “It’s a frightening situation to be in. I’m frightened, but the patients are also frightened. Some of them are very ill and their families cannot visit them, so we sit with them, hold their hand and talk to them.

‘‘It’s not for everyone and it can be very emotionally draining, but there is great support from the nurses and all the other staff.”

Jacqui has completed three long shifts so far, getting ‘fit tested’ before each shift to make sure she’s fit for work. She is continuing to do her ‘day job’ at the college and works Monday – Friday, delivering classes and online support to her students.

Her 13-hour shifts in the hospital on her weekend off means she has to completely self-isolate from her family and live in separate accommodation.

Jacqui’s donation will go to the university’s appeal to buy equipment, enabling scientists to test for Coronavirus at 10 times the current rate.

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