Edinburgh Napier University

An Edinburgh Napier University graphic design student has been inspired by her mother’s career as a midwife to shine a spotlight on the work of the NHS for her final year project. 

Lois McShane, originally from Grantown on Spey, has created ‘100 lives in one day’ – a series of NHS uniforms, each adorned with its own message that describes the NHS and some of the issues it and its staff are currently facing.  

The uniforms, which are meant to be displayed as posters, are made from crepe paper and have been intricately sewn together by Lois. 

Together with a range of smaller hospital objects, which have been photographed and transformed into posters that take the viewer through a day in the life of an NHS worker, the items form part of the student’s final year project at Edinburgh Napier and will be graded to help determine her degree classification at the University. 

The project was meant to be one of 100s on display at the Edinburgh Napier Degree Show this month but plans for the physical exhibition had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Lois had also planned to show her work within Raigmore Hospital in Inverness which has also been cancelled. 

Despite this, Lois hopes that the project will help NHS workers – like her mother who works as a midwife at Raigmore Hospital – get the credit they deserve, alongside helping mark a period of positive change for the NHS. 

She said: “My mum, Sarah, is a midwife for the NHS at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and she is a big inspiration behind this project.

“Back in September when I chose to do my project about the NHS, I didn’t believe he NHS was getting enough recognition and respect that it deserved for the work that it does. Our NHS staff sacrifice their own lives to work in Britain’s most vital institution to care and help others. They’re placed in such challenging situations every day, especially during times like now and we are so incredibly lucky to have the NHS. 

“My aim for the project was to visually communicate the underlying issues that weren’t spoken about enough with regards to the NHS. A lot has changed between September and now and it is amazing to see everyone come together to support and protect our NHS. I hope this is the beginning of positive change for the NHS.”