and manager vicky are having to step in to fill gaps in the rota. we are struggling for staff at the moment, so i'm finding, i think last week, every night i think i was out doing one or two care calls. we do have to pick up the phone and change times, we do have to be creative with the care that we provide. and until we can get some more people through the door to support us with that, then that's the way things will have to stay. there you go. today's report says whilst recruitment of care staff improved during the lockdowns, absence because of sickness has doubled and staff vacancies are now rising steadily, with existing staff exhausted and much better pay on offer elsewhere. how many sicknesses have we had today? the doctor who runs this care company also worked on hospital wards helping to discharge patients during the pandemic. with such a shortage of care staff in the community, he worries about the knock—on effect