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Covid

Things that will have changed for ever?

38 replies

ivykaty44 · 14/04/2020 22:09

Online shopping, before was at 7% do you think people will adjust to more click and collect and online shopping?

Telephone dr appointment, I’ve found it much easier to get my father a telephone appointment and have had probably 6/7 in the last 3 weeks. Much eAsier to do at home and quicker. Will this evolve to more telephone appointments rather than face to face?

What other things gave you noticed which might not change back or evolve to be different?

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ofwarren · 14/04/2020 22:12

I hope doctors surgeries do use some telephone appointments in the future. Many times for my son's medical issues, a phone call would totally be enough.

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CalleighDoodle · 14/04/2020 22:12

Work from home. How can companies now say it isnt possible?

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stuckindoors77 · 14/04/2020 22:13

Well I always struggled to access my doctor's surgery properly before, their system was unworkable for people who work full time. I bloody love the online triage system they have now. You can explain via a series of messages (photo included if you want) what the problem is and they text or email you back telling you what to do next. I really hope they keep this long term now they've set it up.

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DeadBod · 14/04/2020 22:15

Using cards for payment. Even the smaller shops have asked customers to use cards for payment. We've only used cash for paying the window cleaner in the last 4 weeks.

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ivykaty44 · 14/04/2020 22:16

CalleighDoodle

I have a job that can’t be done from home, only they’ve now found it can and half my team are working a customer facing role from home 🤣

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RunningNinja79 · 14/04/2020 22:22

Hopefully less people using A&E for minor things. It wasn't unheard of someone to go to hospital for some reason and have to be sat there for hours before being seen. MIL broke her foot last week and was in and out in a relatively short period of time. She said there was hardly anyone there. People seemed to have realised that a trip to A&E isn't always necessary.

WFH. I never want to go back to the office again. I know one day I will have to, but I really hope that it wont be 5 days a week every week.

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AlecTrevelyan006 · 14/04/2020 22:25

shaking hands when you meet someone will become a thing of the past

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EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 14/04/2020 22:25

Hopefully much less stigma against benefit claimants and a greater more vocal push nationally that UC is completely unfit for purpose, now more people have seen it for themselves.

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katkit · 14/04/2020 22:29

More hand washing facilities in public.

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stuckindoors77 · 14/04/2020 22:31

Using cards for payment. Even the smaller shops have asked customers to use cards for payment. We've only used cash for paying the window cleaner in the last 4 weeks.

Oh yes this, I have £30 in cash around the house.... it feels like Monopoly money now because nobody will take it!

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Bottomplasters · 14/04/2020 22:32

ALcoholics anonymous, Narcotics anonymous and smart recovery have all moved to zoom. Every one I felt was a bit sniffy about online meetings not believing they were 'real meetings' before. That will change I hope. Much more convenient and I have done way more meetings

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Ragwort · 14/04/2020 22:36

Hopefully people will support the local businesses that have offered outstanding personal service, ie; home delivery etc. There have been some fabulous initiatives where I live and I really hope they keep going.

And lots of people are being so kind and helpful, I am involved in a volunteering project & we have been overwhelmed with financial support and offers of help.

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Pleasedontdothat · 14/04/2020 22:37

The attitude of ‘oh it’s only a cold, my dc would have to have a leg falling off before they’re allowed to stay off school’ will be a thing of the past. It will be socially unacceptable to go out when you’re coughing and sneezing.

I’m really hoping I’ll only have to go into the office for the occasional team meeting, although how we’ll do those if social distancing measures are in place for a long time, I don’t know

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NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite · 14/04/2020 22:40

Working from home will become the norm.
(Companies will close offices and drastically reduce running costs, we will need less trains and buses as a result leading to improvements in air quality and a reduction in people developing asthma).

The Govt will try and eradicate cash. (As a result benefit fraud will fall as all transactions will be via bank accounts).

I think GP telephone appointments will become the norm as will initial hospital appointments with Consultants.

I'd like to think people will use their cars less as the air is cleaner due to emptier roads but, sadly, I don't think people would give up cars. There will be fewer cars due to many working from home though.

The vast majority of people doing on-line food shopping will carry on after the pandemic is over just because they've got used to it. Fighting for a slot will become the norm.

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ErrolTheDragon · 14/04/2020 22:44

Hopefully people will support the local businesses that have offered outstanding personal service, ie; home delivery etc. There have been some fabulous initiatives where I live and I really hope they keep going.

Yes - we've not had to use the supermarkets at all during 'lockdown', and we're mostly eating better.

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Redlocks28 · 14/04/2020 22:49

I think many things will return to just how they were, sadly. Raised eyebrows and disciplinary meetings when you have days off work Will return and and people asking to WFH will still seem an an excuse to skive or that you’re just trying to save money on childcare.

Hopefully less people using A&E for minor things. It wasn't unheard of someone to go to hospital for some reason and have to be sat there for hours before being seen. MIL broke her foot last week and was in and out in a relatively short period of time. She said there was hardly anyone there. People seemed to have realised that a trip to A&E isn't always necessary

I don’t think this will stop either, sadly. It’s only stopped now because people are terrified of catching COVID.

I hope more things can happen online/via phone/computer though-doctors appointments particularly. I wonder how GPs have found this has worked over the last couple of weeks.

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xine15 · 14/04/2020 22:56

I've been having hospital appointments by phone for the last few years with the endocrine clinic. It works so much better for me, rather than pretty much half the day written off I have a 15minute slot when waiting for the call and usually at most it takes up half an hour of my day. I hope more services become like this, which would free up face to face when needed.

I'm hoping teacher might get a little more respect after this all as recently I've felt a huge decline in the general public's opinion of the profession. I think there will definitely be more respect (quite rightly) for our nursing and care staff.

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Shelby30 · 14/04/2020 23:03

I think it has to be the work from home thing.

Most companies will be looking at how to cut costs after this. Easy way to save rent or move to smaller premises would be having more staff working from home.

My employer has a huge building with 800 ppl and we have had to rent an additional office space nearby. We also reduced the size of the desks to fit more desks in. They have spoken about having teams working from home a few days a week to free up desks so we cld at least all fit in the building. I wonder if they will now go ahead with that. Especially as our budgets are going to be shot next yr, it's public sector. The rent and rates on the premises we have are millions of pounds a year! Madness.

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AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet · 14/04/2020 23:04

No more shaking hands, increase in online shopping, increase in the number of children being homeschooled, less fast fashion and unnecessary purchases - people will see how much money they've saved

I know many countries hugely depend on tourism, but I'm not sure we'll have the same freedom of travel or availability of cheap flights.

People will be very slow to attend large gatherings and confined spaces, e.g. Concerts and the cinema

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AgentCooper · 14/04/2020 23:06

I hope people will remember this at the next election and think about how much we need a well-funded NHS with plenty of staff, no matter where they come from.

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Wingedharpy · 14/04/2020 23:16

I don't think freedom to travel will return to previous levels either @AlwaysOnABloodyDiet.

I can also imagine that we will have to have paperwork to travel to say we've had Covid 19 and are immune or, we've had a vaccination (if/when there is one).

Tourism to some countries will be slow to pick up due to fear - real or imagined, eg. China, Italy ,Spain and UK.

Everything, but everything will cost far more due to firms trying to recoup some of their losses.

Many couples will separate/divorce.
Many couples will move in together/get married.

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ColdCottage · 14/04/2020 23:45

I've had phone call appointment with consultants for my son for a few years now when they don't need to examine him just see how he is doing. Saves maybe 2h travel plus wait time. SO much easier. Always ask for an online call at GP when applicable. Hope these things become more normal. Saves us all time, saves money on travel and frees up parking at hospitals for those who have to come in plus more environmentally friendly.

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userxx · 15/04/2020 07:22

@AlecTrevelyan006 I hope so, it's always given me the ick. I've no idea if the hand I'm shaking hasn't just been wiping nether regions 🤮. I've definitely overthought this for a long time.

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ivykaty44 · 15/04/2020 07:30

’m really hoping I’ll only have to go into the office for the occasional team meeting, although how we’ll do those if social distancing measures are in place for a long time, I don’t know

Other companies are having digital meetings, so this maybe an option?

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Gfplux · 15/04/2020 07:46

Overseas Holiday travel will be slow to return to the old normal. Hopefully people will realise they don’t have to take a plane to have a good time.

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