THE MAN OUT THE FRONT

Manning the frontest of the front lines  has been Mat Shackleton who has been the person at the entrance to the Medical Centre checking each and every person who wishes to enter for signs of Conv19.

Hundreds of time each day he has to go through the mantra “ Have you got a temperature? Sore throat? Cough? etc.” then “have you stayed in your bubble? The followed by again by “does anyone in your bubble have a temperature….etc. ?” Having been endlessly repeating this day after day for several weeks would be enough to make most of us a bit jaded, but clearly not Mat.

He was kept busy, as well as dealing with the stream of patients turning up to see doctors or nurses he was also handing out the prescriptions a they were made up to the considerable group of others waiting for  their scripts.  

I visited the Centre on a mid afternoon when there was a cold southerly whipping through. As I waited to be processed I watched Matt in action and he was impressive. Despite the weather and the fact that he had been working there in the cold there for some time he was, well,  chirpy. Really friendly with a big smile, having a word and laugh with everybody and, as I was about to find out, he was very quick witted. 

My turn came around, we went through the  routine then having asked my name he studied his clipboard. “He frowned; Hmmm” they told me to watch out for you, said that you was a bit of a scrapper”. He had noted that my face was a bit of a mess. I assured him “You’re quite safe , it’s Tuesday and my religion forbids fighting on Tuesdays” With a laugh he raised the barrier to allow me to enter.

I had occasion to visit the Centre a couple of weeks later to find that he was going through the process with the same good humour as previously. “Ah, I know you” he said.

Well done Mat, you have doubtless cheered many people who were not feeling the best right at that time. As they say ‘laughter is the best medicine’.