Nothing Like It
In 2014 I spent two weeks photographing night shifts in an A&E Department. This was at the Royal Gwent Hospital in South Wales. During the course of my time there I witnessed the relentless workload that faced the NHS staff. The people I met were amazing to talk to and spend time with. I think the most surprising thing was the wonderful sense of humour amongst the doctors, nurses and porters. So many of the social issues we read about in the news manifest themselves in an A&E department, such as mental health, suicide and lack of social care. Ultimately, I came to see the A&E ward as a socially fascinating place, it becomes a melting pot for society and humanity. I don't think there is anywhere else where you can find life, death, tears of sadness, tears of happiness, laughter, joy, pain, anger, strength and fragility, so I came to name the project: Nothing Like It.