In a hospital environment, every minute matters. Nurses bring skill, judgement and compassion to complex care, from everyday support to the decisions that require calm, focus and confidence. Around them, a wider team works with the same purpose, helping create safe, clean and supportive environments where nurses can focus on patients and deliver the care that matters most.
International Nurses Day on 12th May is an opportunity to recognise that collective effort. It highlights not only the work nurses do but also the role of the teams around them in supporting safe, smooth and dignified.
Across Royal Papworth Hospital, colleagues in catering, portering and support services play a vital role in helping the hospital operate with consistency, care and compassion every day.
Keeping Nurses Fuelled, Focused and Ready
For nurses working long, demanding shifts, even a short break can make a difference.
That’s where Kirsty Bennett and the OCS Catering team step in.
Leading a busy restaurant service that supports hundreds of staff, patients and visitors each day, Catering Team Leader Kirsty ensures nurses can quickly access nutritious, hot meals, working hard to help them make the most of every valuable minute they have to rest and recharge.
“We work as quickly as possible to keep everything running. Serving food at a steady pace and making sure there are always options available, that’s what is important, especially to the nurses and those who have limited rest time.”
Kirsty Bennett
Catering Team Leader – Royal Papworth Hospital
Food Services That Support Frontline Healthcare Teams
From hot meals to grab-and-go options, the focus is clear: food that is both nourishing and accessible for those on the front line.
Kirsty and her team are constantly evolving their offer, based on valuable patient and staff feedback and the changing needs of a busy hospital environment. From introducing healthier options to ensuring meals are quick and easy to eat on the go, the service is shaped around the realities of hospital life.
With around 400 patients and hospital staff visiting during peak lunch periods alone, maintaining variety, quality and efficiency is no small task, but one the team takes pride in delivering.
Close collaboration between front-of-house and kitchen teams ensures feedback is acted on quickly, creating a service that truly reflects what staff want and need.
But the impact goes beyond nutrition.
In a high-pressure hospital environment, small moments of normality can make a big difference.
“Sometimes it’s just about being a listening ear, giving people a moment to pause, recharge, and have a normal conversation, before they head back to care for their patients.”
Kirsty Bennett
Catering Team Leader – Royal Papworth Hospital
These small, everyday interactions help create a welcoming space where staff feel appreciated, valued and re-energised before returning to the ward.
Supporting Care Through Every Patient Journey
Elsewhere in the hospital, Fiona Duce and the Imaging Portering Team play different but equally essential roles.
Fiona and her colleague manage a steady flow of requests, often supporting dozens of patient journeys across imaging services such as X-ray, CT, and MRI. Over the course of a week, this can mean supporting well over 100 patient movements, each one requiring coordination, care, and attention to detail.
Behind the logistics is a strong sense of care. Fiona’s focus stays firmly on the patient. She takes the time to understand how each person is feeling before moving them. Some patients want conversation, whilst others need quiet reassurance.
That human connection is central to how Fiona approaches her role.
Simple actions, such as offering a blanket to keep vulnerable patients warm, providing calm reassurance, or simply being present, can change a clinical journey into a more comfortable and dignified experience.
“It is about doing the basics well, every time. Safe movement, clear communication, and treating every patient with dignity.”
Fiona Duce
Imaging Porter – Royal Papworth Hospital
Enabling Nurses to Focus on What Matters Most
The work of both teams share a common purpose: to support the environments where nurses can stay focused on patient care, and where their expertise has the greatest impact.
By managing patient transport, liaising with departments, and maintaining efficient services, colleagues like Fiona reduce pressure on clinical teams and help maintain the flow of care across the hospital.
Close collaboration with nursing teams is part of Fiona’s day-to-day work. Each patient movement is agreed with the ward, ensuring it fits around clinical priorities such as medication rounds or planned treatment.
Adapting, Improving and Working as One Team
Whether refining menus based on customer feedback or exploring new ways to support clinical teams, both Kirsty and Fiona reflect a culture of continuous improvement.
Fiona is keen to develop new skills and take on additional responsibilities where appropriate, further reducing the demands on nursing teams.
Meanwhile, catering services continuously evolve to meet the changing needs of NHS staff and patient visitors, balancing speed and variety during busy periods.
This shared mindset, always looking for ways to improve, strengthens support for nurses and patient care.
A Shared Respect for Nursing
Working closely with nurses every day brings a deep admiration for the role they play.
These reflections are echoed across teams throughout the hospital.
“Nurses see the full picture of patient care. They manage the clinical detail, the emotional support, and the constant change in a hospital environment. Their work makes a real difference to people’s lives, every single day.”
Fiona Duce
Imaging Porter – Royal Papworth Hospital
Celebrating the Whole Team This International Nurses Day
This International Nurses Day, we celebrate the dedication, compassion and expertise of nurses.
But we also recognise the partnership between the wider network of colleagues who support them, working together to create the conditions where patients can receive the care they need, when they need it most.
