Views from the Inside: Reflections on the Modern Hospital

Abstract There's a constant refrain in the press, on social media and from populist politicians that the NHS is dying on its feet. How accurate is this picture? This article takes a behind‐the‐scenes look at daily life in a modern, big city hospital. The Queen Elizabeth is now the biggest workplace in Birmingham. Its 12,000 staff reflect the multi‐racial diversity of contemporary Britain. Based on interviews with staff and patients, this article gives readers a feel for the realities, joys and pressures of working at one of the biggest and busiest hospitals in the country. It covers working conditions; the stresses on staff; relations with management; efforts to improve the work culture; the focus on patients; and the realities of a multi‐ethnic workplace. It offers a measured contrast to those purveying doom and gloom and suggests a core resilience within the hospital service.