The idea of a blog category titled “what it feels like to be ...” came to mind when I facilitated my first Schwartz round at my local hospital. I was listening to one of our colleagues in the portering department talking about some of the frustrations porters experience when dealing with other healthcare professionals.
My role in these blogs is to provide a medium for different healthcare staff to share their experiences on this platform. The following is a shared experience from people who work in the portering department, stores and procurement etc. I hope by shedding light on the experiences of the different professions in hospitals, we can promote empathy and a greater understanding of their roles and requirements to perform their jobs. By sharing stories and perspectives like those of the porters below, we can develop a deeper appreciation for the diverse roles within our work environment and build a more respectful and compassionate environment for everyone.
“Show us some respect”
Life looks and feels very different in the eyes of those on the opposite side of daily work events. I would have never personally perceived a porter’s experience until recently.
The porters/storepersons I have interviewed for this blog, so far, have one thing in common and only one thing they want to achieve; “show us some respect”
It must be tough coming to work each day when you work hard doing a physical job, responding quickly, supporting everyone and picking up the pieces, all while being paid at band 2 (low pay), and not feeling recognised or respected.
Being a porter is a physically demanding and often underappreciated job. Porters play a crucial role in hospitals and other settings, ensuring that patients, supplies, and even the deceased are moved efficiently and respectfully. However, their work often goes unnoticed or taken for granted.
Porters often feel a lack of respect from others, including healthcare professionals. They face challenges such as navigating through crowded corridors while transporting patients, equipment or supplies, and it can be disheartening when others don't give them the space or acknowledgement, they need to perform their duties effectively.
Porters deserve our respect and recognition for the important work they do. Without them, hospitals would struggle to function smoothly. They are an integral part of the healthcare team, providing essential support that enables doctors and nurses to carry out their jobs efficiently.
One aspect that I personally was not aware of is the emotional toll that porters can experience. They are not immune to the heartbreak of losing a patient, and they may be the ones who transport the deceased to the morgue.
“I was asked to take an 8-year-old who died in a car accident to the morgue. His dad accompanied me carrying his deceased child until we reached the morgue. Only I as the porter had access beyond this point. The father passed over his child to me saying: take care. All this happened while I myself was expecting my own child”
It is essential for all of us, regardless of our roles, to be more aware and respectful of the work porters do. The next time we encounter a porter in the corridor, we should give them the space they need and acknowledge their presence with a smile or a kind word. Showing them respect and appreciation can go a long way in making them feel valued and recognized for their important contributions.
Tarek