to think nurses, doctors ect should be able to drink, smoke and have a life outside office hours

[AuntiePickleBottom]

i was outside with my friend while she was having a cigettee in break time ( we work at a hospital).

the rules in my work is if we go outside we must get changed out of work clothes but have ID badges on.

a visitor commented that all NHS staff should lead by example and she hates seeing nurses smoking as they should lead by example.

[larks35]

You could include teachers there as well! I'm a teacher and I smoke, but I would never smoke outside or anywhere near school for this very reason. I do believe I should lead by example and whilst I wouldn't lie about it, I certainly wouldn't smoke where my students could see me. I don't smoke at all throughout my working day and don't miss it either.

To sum up I agree that everyone has a right to a life outside work but if you're gonna smoke right outside the door with your name badge on etc. then I think you should just take whatever comments you get tbh.

[Mightimama]

I have to agree to a point TBH. Outside office hours yes they should be able to do whatever they like so long as it doesn't their working ability.

However, during business/working hours I think they should refrain from smoking. I wouldn't like to be seen by a doctor/nurse who was smelling of smoke.

[Inertia]

Outside working hours, i.e. when they've finished their shift, fine. Pretty unpleasant for somebody who is already in hospital to be treated/examined by somebody who smells of smoke due to smoking within their working hours (and smokers do smell, even if they change their clothes).

[shaz298]

I respect people's right to choose to smoke or not.

However as the parent of a child who has spent long periods of time in hospital ( 35 admissions in 2009 - thankfully fewer since) I believe I should be able to choose not to have someone who stinks of smoke administering care/medication or breathing on my precious, poorly little man! Sorry.

[AgentZigzag]

It would hardly be realistic to expect teachers not to swear and drink outside school time - which of course none of them would ever even think of doing

But a job like being a politician, there could be an argument made that they do have to live by certain rules outside their work in order to carry out their work.

So the minister who is trying to pass legislation which would penalise people who had affairs outside marriage, couldn't then keep their job if they was found to be having an affair him/herself.

But why the two are different, I'm not sure.

[larks35]

AgentZigzag - I know you must be being ironic but due to a couple of glasses of wine I'm gonna react - I can't believe you're using politicians as an example here So when said politicians go bananas about people looting and stealing and hand out ridiculous sentences (4 months for nicking a bottle of water ffs), but have previously been either let off or allowed to pay back SOME of what they have been looting and nicking off the country. Grrrr, don't use politicians as some sort of moral example....

[ButWhyIsTheGinGone]

As a teacher in a small town I quite often have a beer or two after work or at weekends in local pub. I quite often sit in the outside bit on the pavement if it's nice. Often my pupils go by, sometimes alone, sometimes with parents, and we always manage a friendly hello or small chat.

I by no means live in the perfect town but I do feel grateful I can enjoy these small pleasures without the fun police grassing me up!

I'm not sure I agree with nurses smoking on shift though (sorry!) It's nothing to do with "leading by example, that's just stupid. I just don't think smoking has any place on hospital grounds. Obviously what people do in their own time is up to them...

[Salmotrutta]

I'm a teacher and I never smoke during the day, or in my car on the way to or from work.
I hate seeing hospital staff huddled in the smoking shelters when I have occasion to be at a hospital. They shouldn't be traipsing around outside in uniforms then potentially carrying dirt or micro-organisms back inside for one thing, aside from their uniforms reeking of smoke.
Bring back scary Matrons I say - even consultants used to be scared of Matron's wrath if they set a foot wrong.