"Red Shoes." ENT Outpatient Clinic, 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.
Health Care Assistant (ENT Outpatient clinic)
How does the drawing of you align with your own thoughts about working in the NHS ? Working in an ENT clinic does have a calming and relaxing effect on me, it’s one of the clinics I really enjoy doing. There is an element of safety, protection and care for the patient inside the hospital. In the drawing I am assisting the doctor in a calm and peaceful environment with the rolling hills and space. The red shoes and crosses represent the passion, love and commitment that I have with my job, while the robin symbolises friendliness and trust.
If you could change one thing about the NHS, what would it be? The one thing I would change would be to have a new dedicated Outpatient department where we could have a say in how it is run and not have parts of it taken away for other uses. I feel that Outpatients is an important part of the healthcare system, it’s not only the entry point to the hospital for treatment, but reduces unnecessary admissions.
Did you always want to work in healthcare? My first experience in caring happened while growing up and working on my parents’ farm caring for the animals. This not only involved feeding, cleaning and milking the cows, but also assisting with difficult calf deliveries, treating foot rot and vaccinating. At this point I was planning on becoming a vet, but changed my mind after completing a Duke of Edinburgh Award. One of the requirements for the award required you to do a few hours of voluntary work in the community. I chose to help and assist the elderly residents in a council run care home. After doing this I realised that I found this type of work very rewarding and loved caring for them and listening to their wealth of knowledge and life experiences. I went on to get a job in a nursing home, attained a City and Guilds in Community Care practice and then after a couple more years, I saw an NHS job advertised in a local paper for an auxiliary nurse in Outpatients and applied for it. I have been working in Outpatients now for nearly thirty years, completed an NVQ level 3 in Healthcare and have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to work with an excellent team of work colleagues and meet and care for so many different people of all ages.
How does the word ‘wellbeing’ sit with you? I feel that the word ‘wellbeing’ means something different to everyone individually. It could mean, for example, being able to put food on the table to feed a family or to be able to receive treatment or a cure for a health issue. To me personally it means being able to go into work and do my job without worry or anxiety, so that I can give the best possible care.
What would you change, remove or add to the drawing to reflect your experiences, personality and interests? I wouldn’t change anything. I love the way that it portrays the ENT setting, the relaxed patient receiving treatment from the doctor and me assisting and anticipating the next move.
