At the hospital
BMJ 2022; 379 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o3017 (Published 22 December 2022) Cite this as: BMJ 2022;379:o3017
- Jennifer Rasanathan, clinical editor,
- Riddhi Shenoy, editorial registrar,
- Tom Nolan, clinical editor
- jrasanathan{at}bmj.com
Malcolm Willett
It’s not just clinical staff who burn the midnight oil to care for patients. In fact, healthcare workers other than nurses, midwives, and doctors make up more than two thirds of the NHS’s total workforce in England.1
These include more than 40 000 cleaning staff, not counting workers in cleaning and laundry services that are contracted out.2 Chefs working for NHS England whipped up 131 million meals requested by inpatients in 2021-22,2 porters might take 30 000 steps a day doing hospitals’ indispensable work,3 and estates services staff maintain 5192 hectares of land owned by the NHS.2
The work of staff other than nurses, midwives, and doctors keeps hospitals and health centres running. Although their contributions behind the scenes are essential, and several initiatives highlight the ways in which these key workers underpin the function of entire health systems, they too often go unrecognised. Hospital work depends on a team that is much more extensive than we imagine.
In an effort to celebrate all healthcare workers, with this image we draw your attention to some of those whose efforts might go unnoticed. Find the healthcare workers depicted by the icons in the key. Perusing these halls will not solve the problems with healthcare (and there are many), but greater recognition and appreciation of the colleagues working alongside us might help all of us feel seen.