The HPWA: January 2022

Thursday 6 January 2022

Ten Years On

It is ten years ago today that I was discharged from the Hospital Portering Service. I have now experienced my second full decade as a civilian; the first being from birth to aged ten. The full story of my dismissal, told closer to the time without hindsight, is listed in this link: https://hpanwo-hpwa.blogspot.com/2013/01/one-year-on.html. Since then things really couldn't have worked out better for me. I very quickly found another job which, although it is "not portering", is still reasonably enjoyable. Also it is infinitely less stressful. Being self-employed means I can organize my own work. I don't have to put up with all the petty politics and bureaucracy, and so long as I do my job well enough, people leave me in peace. You can't say that for the NHS; in fact, if anything the opposite is true. I have remained in touch with my brother and sister porters from OxRad, and have even made new portering and ex-portering friends. I have maintained the tradition of St Theo's Day. I started this post-portering decade in fear and uncertainty. Would I be able to find other work? Would I be able to keep my home? Would I have to endure poverty? Would I be able to support my child? None of my fears ever came true; not one. There are probably a number of people in the JRH who were hoping desperately that I would be ruined by my dismissal. They are no doubt very disappointed and I'm glad. I don't know what my second post-portering decade holds in store for me. Things could get better, worse or just stay the same. Right now I'm content to be in the now and not fear the future. Whatever comes my way, I will deal with it then. As for all my friends, both portering and non-portering, who have given me so much love and support over the last ten years, I have no idea how to thank you.
I have presented a live episode of The Gas Spanner to mark this occasion, see: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-gas-spanner-programme-18.html.
And here is a special episode of The Gas Spanner to mark the tenth anniversary of my suspension: http://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-gas-spanner-programme-15.html.

What is the HPWA

The Hospital Porters’ Welfare Association is a new charity and support community established to provide care and support for the approximately 9000 serving Hospital Porters in the UK and the even greater number of retired and former Hospital Porters. Today thousands of Hospital Porters and ex-Hospital Porters live under the pressure of the trauma sometimes involved in their duties; and also poverty, isolation, indignity and social structural violence leading to suffering, a poor quality of life and increasing mental and physical health problems stemming from their sacrifice to the Hospital Portering Service, the National Health Service and private health practices; and the patients whom they play such a vital part in caring for. Our mission is to build a better present and future for Hospital Porters across Britain and eventually throughout the world by giving financial support, counseling and comradeship. In doing so we hope to also raise the public profile of Hospital Portering and increase awareness of this noble profession.