"Calling for your attention." Estates Team, Torbay Hospital
This is one of series of co-created drawings that has been developed through continuing discussions and shadowing of staff at Torbay hospital to explore experiences of burn out and response to the word ‘wellbeing’. Staff are encouraged to talk about and visualise meaning and metaphor in their work and environment.
This work was produced as part of a residency with Torbay and South Devon Healthcare Trust 2022 -2025, funded by NHS Charities Together and will be part of a permanent exhibition in the historic boardroom at Torbay Hospital.Lead Electrical Technician
How does the drawing of you align with your own thoughts about working in the NHS? This shows me at work in of our generator spaces. It’s also a space of still, just the creaking of the engine. All this could change in a millisecond, if the generator was called in to action, to provide emergency power for the hospital, if there was a power outage. So, like my job, it can be peaceful, but in a millisecond all hell could break loose, and you are in the thick of it, keeping the hospital working for the staff and patients. It was a safe place away from the humdrum of a busy hospital site, a place of still, in a sound deadened box. A time to gather your thoughts and just to be still.
If you could change one thing about the NHS what would it be? I would love a modern well maintained hospital site, with focus on patient care not being restricted by budgets.
Did you always want to work in healthcare? No, it was chosen by fate. It was never my intention to work in healthcare, but it found me.
What makes your job worthwhile? Meeting patients, making a difference, but being out of sight. No one knows what we do, except“changing light bulbs.” We are the original unsung heroes of the NHS. The Estates Team keeping the Hospital working in the most trying of circumstances.
Funny quote, “We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.”
How does the word ‘wellbeing’ sit with you? Wellbeing, the act of trying to balance work, life, family, health. Sometimes failing miserably, okay most of the time. You definitely need a sense of humour, properly darker the better, and sarcastic and a supportive family (Wife).
What would you change, remove or add to the drawing to reflect your experiences, personality and interests? The noise of the world outside, the quiet space. The noise inside your head, all calling for attention, calling out for your help.
