Hospital porters are often the most loved of all hospital staff. ROBIN BIDDULPH began working at Basildon Hospital as a volunteer, and is now a porter. He wheels us through his duties.

My parents’ last moments were here...

“I cared for my mumand dad for many years. Their last moments were in this hospital and they were looked after very well. I never forgot it.

“After that it was difficult to find work as I had been disconnected from the world, so I started volunteering.”

I’m a Basildon boy...

“I’ve lived in this area all my life and I remember the hospital being built. I like helping people and I was very happy with my mumand dad’s treatment, so this seemed like a good place to volunteer.

“I did meet and greet in the outpatient department then a portering job came up and my application was successful.”

It’s got to be personal...

“There is great satisfaction in this job. My favourite part is talking to patients and making them feel comfortable. I make an effort to call them by their names – I don’t want them to feel like a number in a queue. I want them to feel looked after.

“It can be frustrating at times if we are short of wheelchairs and that causes delays for patients.

“No one day is ever the same for a porter. We could be moving patients, delivering food trolleys, fetching blood and samples, dealing with gas cylinders, taking beds to be fixed.

“It is also a responsible job – if I take someone from a ward to the imaging department, during that time I am their carer.

The patient is my priority...

“Patients are the most important part of the job. You see all sides of life in a hospital.

Youmight see happy families in maternity, say congratulations and get a hug from one of them.

Then youmay see someone sad or worried and try tomake things less stressful for them. “ Comfy shoes are a must...

“Porters do a lot of walking, but our family never had a car so I’ve always been used to that.

Comfortable shoes are important. I didn’t find the steel-capped shoes good to wear, but you can wear anything as long as it’s sturdy and black.

“I still don’t completely know my way around, but if I don’t know something there is always someone to ask – people are very helpful here.

“I am very lucky to work with my colleagues. Not having been in work for a while I was a bit nervous about it, but this is a good team and everyone looks after each other. Volunteering was a good way of starting back at work.”

It’s nice to be nice...

“I try to be nice to everyone.

Sometimes doctors and nurses may seem brusque, but I think they are busy and under stress and don’t mean it.

“It might sound funny but every day when I come into work I always pat the NHS logo on my uniform. I love the NHS and I amvery proud to work for it.”