An ode to non-frontline workers

We hear a lot about our brave healthcare heroes these days. It’s often implied that the most heroic are those serving on the ‘frontlines’— the people who are providing direct hands-on care to the public. They have been in the eye of this storm and absolutely deserve to be recognized and supported. But it’s important we also recognize those who do not have a hands-on role, yet are anything but hands-off. There is a legion of folks working behind the healthcare scenes who enable healthcare front-liners to do their job.

There are the lab personnel working around the clock to process tests, run sophisticated genetic analyses on a scale we could only dream of ten years ago, and provide vital intelligence to the people leading the fight against COVID-19. There are researchers who are making discoveries about SARS-CoV-2 at a rate that it is outpacing work on other viruses – work that has taken a generation to accumulate. Then there are the immunologists, vaccinologists, microbiologists, and many others who inform our vaccine strategy. Without them, the vaccination campaign would be a blunt instrument rather than a targeted rollout to save more lives and protect the most vulnerable.

There are also the people behind the scenes who are not healthcare workers but have been working tirelessly to support those who are. Since the onset of the pandemic, our team at Doctors of BC has been advocating on doctors’ behalf with public health and government officials on issues of concern, supporting doctors in the way in which they practice, keeping the medical profession informed, and responding to countless emails and messages. They have done so all while experiencing the same pandemic restrictions as everyone else, but with the added pressure of knowing that their work directly impacts those on the frontlines. In a poignant example, some staff have been working hard to ensure every doctor is aware of vaccination schedules so that no one misses out, even as they themselves continue to wait for their own shots.

I also want to mention the staff at the Ministry of Health and the Health Authorities, and indeed across all government. Some years ago when I had my first ever meeting at the Ministry of Health building in Victoria, I asked why there was so much security considering this was a public building. I was told it was because it was not uncommon to receive credible physical threats against the people working there. These days, emotions are running extremely high. There is immense pressure and scrutiny on our public officials. They too are in the position of working countless hours to ensure that other people get vaccinated before they do.
 
Any time I have approached a non-frontline healthcare worker I’ve asked how I can support them. The answer I’ve received is that the simple act of thanking them is enough. And while I take them at their word, I suspect a little kindness, a little patience, and a recognition that they too are human beings would also go a long way. Just like the rest of us, most have not seen family and friends in a long time and some have experienced heart-wrenching personal losses. 

More vaccines are arriving weekly and the data from BC and other jurisdictions globally is showing very promising results, even in the presence of variants of concern. We’re all rowing in the same direction to achieve the best possible result for British Columbians, whether ‘frontline’ or not. Let’s remember to thank those working behind the healthcare scenes who are also helping make the campaign against COVID-19 a success.

- Dr Matthew Chow