Portraits of workers from across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGCC) are to be featured as part of a new exhibition celebrating their contribution as we approach the second anniversary of the first national covid lockdown.
Picturing our Workforce: One NHS Family has been inspired by a real desire to acknowledge and see the diversity of NHSGCC's workforce family.
The exhibition will first be staged at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, before going on to other hospital sites across the health board area.
Jackie Sands, Arts and Health Co-ordinator at NHSGGC said: “This exhibition is extremely timely and will reflect the real life, work and experiences of our colleagues as they have faced a challenge like no other. But more than that, it will recognise the huge diversity of the people who work with us, embracing what we call our One NHS Family.”
Clinical Photographer Lisa Miller has led the work capturing the portraits of NHS colleagues, with the support of the staff within Medical Illustration Services. Lisa was recently nominated for the National Portrait Gallery’s ‘Hold Still’ award and published in the recent Rankin’s Hold Still 2020 book which shows photographs of the National NHS Family at work during the pandemic.
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Lisa said that the project has been "great fun" allowing her to meet colleagues from across the NHS she wouldn’t normally work with.
She said: “I want those being portrayed to get a sense of pride and achievement when they look at their portrait and feel like they are a truly valued member of our NHS team. I hope those who see the portraits see how varied our workforce is and all the different roles people play to come together to provide an amazing service to the public.”
Kate Ocker, a research nurse who looks after patients on clinical trials and is Chair of the Staff Disability Forum, said: “It’s important for everybody to be visible and this exhibition gives people who are not ordinarily in the public eye, the chance to show how much their jobs and roles matters.
“I’m really looking forward to being part of the exhibition, it helps us feel part of the One NHS Family, providing a snapshot of people particularly after everything we’ve been through in the last two years. It will be a real celebration – we’re still standing after all the challenges and I think that’s a massive achievement.”
One of those being portrayed in the exhibition is Oudwin Griffith, a Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and Chair of the BME Staff Network.
He said: “I felt that I should volunteer to be part of the exhibition, in the hope that other staff from a BME background would come forward and be included. This not only helps staff, but patients from a similar background too.
"I am excited about the potential impact of the exhibition on BME staff and patients going forward.”
Ayesha Bains, Workforce Equality Project Officer, Human Resources and Project Lead for the exhibition, said: “As the biggest employer in one of the most diverse populations in Scotland, we are keen to ensure that our workforce is representative of the diverse patient community we serve.
"Our One NHS Family Campaign has been developed as part of NHSGGC’s ongoing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion as we continuously work towards building a Better Workplace. The One NHS Family campaign was established to raise awareness of our commitment to acknowledging, supporting and celebrating our diverse workforce.
“I am delighted that Picturing our Workforce: One NHS Family raises the visibility of our amazing workforce, encouraging and promoting greater equality, diversity and inclusion within our workplace as an integral component of ‘Growing our Great Community’ within NHSGGC.”
The exhibition is a collaboration between NHSGCC’s Animating Public Spaces arts programme and the Human Resources and Organisational Development Directorate, the Workforce Equalities Forums and the Human Rights and Equalities Teams.
The exhibition will open in spring and will also be available to view online.
