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Original poster

NHS workers getting to the front of the queue

179 replies

Whatevah · 26/04/2020 09:47

Queuing for B&Q yesterday, about a 30 min queue. Lovely weather so nice to be out in the sun.
As I was at the front of the queue someone came up, asked if NHS could go straight in, guy said yes, and in they went.
I think it’s bloomin’ cheeky to go to the front of a queue just because you work for the NHS. There, I’ve said it. I’d never do it and think people who do are taking the p. There are plenty of discounts, offers, special hours and general public adoration being directed at the NHS. And it is deserved. But I think it takes a certain person to saunter to the front of the queue, and think it’s highly unfair on others. Especially as so many are working still, and don’t get this ‘perk’.
It really annoyed me.

OP posts:
TheSingingTowers · 26/04/2020 10:11

Sorry crossed post!

00Sassy · 26/04/2020 10:11

I’ve stood queuing a few times and seen someone go to the front and show some
I.D. and be allowed in ahead of me.

I just assume they are trying to save time before their next shift and am happy to see that they are allowed to.

I actually have my own NHS I.D. in my purse with me but haven’t yet been in enough of a rush to mind queuing.
So perhaps I’m being naive in thinking they are actually in need of being prioritised and would wait if they had the time, like me.

The weather has been fine each time I’ve needed to wait though and I do wonder if I’d be tempted to use my I.D. to get in sooner if it was raining Blush

working5to9 · 26/04/2020 10:11

A acquaintance of mine has always enjoyed the NHS perks and it was one of the reasons she applied for the job. She is loving it now, taking full advantage of early opening and things and was moaning the other night about how the small, family owned & run cafe in the village has re-opened for takeaways were surprised when she asked for a discount for being NHS.
She works 10 hours a week. Is usually office based but now from home. Her area of work has mainly dried up so she is just doing a couple of hours on the days she works.
She has finally stopped going on about how unfair it is that the school asked whether her children really needed to be there at the end of the first week of being open for the children of key workers only.

compassunreliable · 26/04/2020 10:13

My only issue is it should be rolled out to other front line workers. My husband is a frontline worker but not in the nhs he faces daily risk of being infected etc whilst protecting the country from harm. It would just be nice to recognise all those who are at risk.

I agree. They are not the only ones under huge amounts of pressure and without whom we'd all be screwed.

Iwantacookie · 26/04/2020 10:16

I dont mind at all. They are the ones dealing with this nightmare so ide rather they were properly fed and rested before work again.
How many are jumping in front of you that it annoys you?
Only time I've seen it was at the pharmacy a carer was picking up medication and everyone kept saying to them "go to the front" even though you could see they were 100% comfortable about it.

Original poster
Whatevah · 26/04/2020 10:19

Absolutely compass, and what about all the shop staff themselves? They should be getting it too.
There was a thread this week about how quiet most of the hospitals actually are, so most staff are not as busy as usual. This is certainly true if my hospital. We had 150 empty beds last week, and a handful of patients in both ICUs. I realise some hospitals may be busier (not in my area of UK though, ours are all quiet). So to me, it seems a bit cheeky to go to the front of the queue. And unnecessary.
I realise not everyone will feel the same, it’s good to have a discussion!

OP posts:
Imboredinthehouse · 26/04/2020 10:19

I’m NHS
wouldn’t dream of showing my staff ID & waltzing to the front of the queue. If I’m shopping it’s on my day off so I’m not in a rush.
Someone dashing for their lunch before shift -fair enough-but b & q doesn’t seem right somehow.

LittleBearPad · 26/04/2020 10:24

There will be people who need to queue jump and others who don’t but may misuse it. A DIY emergency seems unlikely.

On balance OP you are likely to not be unreasonable!

Blondieg · 26/04/2020 10:24

You are visiting b&q because you are "allowed".
They are using a perk because they are "allowed"

Original poster
Whatevah · 26/04/2020 10:28

Blondieg, I am ‘allowed’ this perk, but don’t use it because I think it is unnecessary, and that there are plenty of others who should have this perk too. I would rather it was scrapped altogether or extended to more people-although then you may have too many going to the me front and chaos.
Interesting that the majority of NHS staff on this thread say they don’t use it, or see it misused.
I definitely don’t have the guts to do it, I’d be so embarrassed and feel like a ‘cheat’.

OP posts:
TooGood2BeTrue · 26/04/2020 10:32

Much rather than clapping, NHS shopping hours, etc. I would like to see the government fund the NHS properly and give them enough PPE and testing facilities. 20,000 dead in the UK (population of 65 million) vs. 5,000 in Germany (80 million) fgs! And still nearly 4,000 new infections each day, 1,000 of which are in health and care workers. That is the real disgrace.

Lilmisskittykat · 26/04/2020 10:35

If you need to skip ahead cause you need lunch and have a limited lunch break or you're coming off a set of shifts and need food etc. That wouldn't upset me.

I do wonder how many admin staff working from home and nhs staff on quiet wards and working the normal shift pattern they always do are just flashing a badge because they can - according to google the nhs employ 1.4millon - that's a lot of queue jumping!

I also think it's very wrong that other key workers are not given the similar perks when they are facing just as challenging time at work at the moment.

NurseJaques · 26/04/2020 10:38

I'm frontline NHS and wouldn't ask to queue jump as would feel like a knob doing so! Also not asking for the discount that many small businesses are offering, as I'm on full pay and they are struggling to keep afloat Sad

Theres an NHS fastrack past the queue at our local tesco, most of my colleagues agree its a nice gesture but not necessary. I do shop during NHS hour, mainly to avoid more vulnerable shoppers after being exposed to covid on a daily basis at work.

Aridane · 26/04/2020 10:38

I agree - the NHS workers aren’t the only ones under stress, working long shifts and keeping the country going.

crosser62 · 26/04/2020 10:40

For the first time in 8 weeks I went to a shop yesterday.

I’m icu front line.

I can’t tell you how nice it was to stand in a queue in the sunshine with my earphones in listening to my music for 30 minutes just because I could.

I haven’t see any sun or the outdoors for months. It’s been work to home, home to work only.

I really wouldn’t begrudge anyone else going to the front though. No idea of their circumstances.

Billben · 26/04/2020 11:08

YANBU. But there always will be piss takers with no conscience. Frankly, I’m getting sick of hearing the word NHS this and NHS that. A lot of those people don’t even work the frontline. Carers going from one service user to another are putting themselves more at risk than a lot of NHS staff do.

siblingrevelryagain · 26/04/2020 11:15

What’s with this slowly emerging backlash to NHS staff I’ve seen on here in the last couple of days-I work in a school so an also a ‘key worker’, but I’m not holding hands whilst people die, working 12 hours in horrible conditions for those with and without PPE, whilst the rest of the world paints stones and makes bread!

My Father will likely die in the next few months because he can’t have his life saving chemo due to COVID-19. However, without great NHS staff we’d have lost him 2 years ago.

‘Key workers’ don’t all have it the same-it’s easier for some than others

Blondieg · 26/04/2020 11:16

Just because you dont use your perk doesn't mean others shouldn't. They may really appreciate and need it.

OutingMyself · 26/04/2020 11:20

What if they have a blocked or broken toilet or their bath plughole has broken and water has leaked through their ceiling??

Both these have happened to me recently (before lockdown) and I went to B&Q to sort it.

JacobReesMogadishu · 26/04/2020 11:21

I could do this if I wanted (I haven’t).

I think it’s nice that it’s offered and for those staff needing some food before or after a long shift and not having time to queue I think it’s a Godsend which shouldn’t be abused.

If it’s your day off or if it’s b&q (plumbing emergency before a shift exceptions apply) then I think it’s abusing it a bit.

MrsCastiel · 26/04/2020 11:23

I really do have to check whether I'm reading Mumsnet or the comments section of the Daily Mail these days.

Get over yourself OP.

bettybattenburg · 26/04/2020 11:24

What’s with this slowly emerging backlash to NHS staff I’ve seen on here in the last couple of days

@siblingrevelryagain They've had enough of teacher bashing.

MrsCastiel · 26/04/2020 11:27

I'm loving the drip feed that not only are you a front line worker, you're also working in ICU.

Handy that you chuck that element in when you're goady thread isn't creating the froth and outrage you'd hoped for.

MrsCastiel · 26/04/2020 11:27

*your

Aridane · 26/04/2020 11:27

What if they have a blocked or broken toilet or their bath plughole has broken and water has leaked through their ceiling??

Then they’re in the position of the rest of the population doing long shifts and keeping the country going