NHS workers getting to the front of the queue

[Whatevah]

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.

What about the people who work for the NHS that work all hours of the week and only get a few set hours to do everything they need to do? Everyone else (apart from workers) have all the bloody time in the world.. although B&Q certainly isn't essential.

But i do agree it is cheeky, my local fish and chip shop were offering free dinners for NHS and key workers etc and i felt like an arsehole getting my free fish and chips 😂 but then i thought hang on i get treated like shit on a daily basis i deserve this! Take it while you can 😀

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!

How many times? The rest of the world isn’t all painting fucking stones. The rest of those working punishing shifts outside the medics ain’t painting stones. And not all the 1.4m NHS staff are witnessing COVID-19 deaths

You kind of have to trust that only NHS workers who are in hideous shifts in covid wards would use the perks available. Otherwise yes it's cheeky.

I think it is unfair to do it when you arent a busy tired doctor or nurse yes. For example I caught the receptionist from my dentist surgery on her phone saying to her relative how she isnt at work at the moment with it being closed and that 'she might use nhs badge to get to front as works for nhs!'

YANBU, plenty of jobs work shifts. DH is in the military and at the moment is only back ocassional weekends, as I can't drive at the moment he is going to the supermarket for us and spending some of the only time he gets with his family away from us queueing. Why should he queue jump? He is helping with logistics for covid. I doubt everyone who does it is frontline NHS either

Or busy in any other nhs field obviously aside from.doctors and nurses...

I wonder what percentage of NHS workers are actually frontline and at risk?

Considering the NHS is the biggest employer in the country it seems that a very small percentage of deaths are NHS workers.

@Bloomburger there was a research paper I read yesterday saying g that the proportion of nhs staff who die from covid is in line with general population

I d say it depends how hard they have been working. My brother in law is NHS and is not exactly overworked so it would be pretty cheeky for him to jump the queue. Obviously there are lots of NHS staff working super hard and who deserve to get in first. As you can't know which one is which I would give queue jumpers the benefit of the doubt.

B&Q I think taking the p.
Food shop or lunch ok.
I personally wouldn’t say anything in your scenario Op but I can understand why others would.

I'm a bit frontline NHS, by which I mean I have to put full PPE on at most twice a week scanning ventilated Covid ICU patients, and 'half' PPE on for the other 30 patients I scan in my part-time role, some of whom transpire to be positive once we've seen their 'for other reason' scan 🙄

But I haven't used my NHS perks at all, bar a half price pizza 😊, but that's because I don't feel I need to. I work days only, and only 3 or 4 of them per week, so have got the time to queue at Asda or the cash to drive on to Waitrose if I don't want such a long queue.

I think the NHS perks should only be used by the real Front Line, imo.

Personally I will happily let them have there moment in the sun, five years time the country will go back to being its usual self centred everyone for themselves as it has been since the end of the Second World War.

You could have used it but chose not to, and then get mad at someone who did.

I take it you know the person so are fully aware of their family, job, relationship circumstances, mental health, people who are relying on them, house renovation, you know they have working plumbing, electrics, light bulbs. You know everything yes?

I couldn't be so rude to the people waiting. Fair enough special shop times etc. But no why should they queue jump

I think night shifts are so absolutely exhausting its needed sometimes.
I'm an emergency services worker (not nhs) and a single mum so shopping is a lot harder at the moment.
If people are off work or working 9-5 I think they should let shift workers skip the queue if necessary. I havent personally done it because we have the hello fresh boxes delivered and just get milk etc on days off. I would happily wait if others needed to jump the queue

Oh and it definitely shouldn't apply to b and q. I mean if exhausted shift workers need priority to run in to get some food before going to bed then I think most people would be happy to let them. I think if they are exhausted anything not needed immediately can wait.

Ah fuck it, I’m NHS and I’ll happily take any perks whilst they last.

In a few weeks we can go back to being abused by the public, frozen wages, underfunded wards and generally being called shit all the time.

I’ll queue jump whilst I can

In the middle of a pandemic someone is worried about a frontline pandemic worker getting into a shop before them. OP your attitude sums up why this pseudo-lockdown isn't working anyway. Petty wants are more important to you than people risking their lives daily to help the population - you included - to get through these unprecedented times.

B&Q non-residential journey doesn't compare in the least so yeah, strain yourself and stand in the queue a bit longer.

I read post & immediately thought '3 posts in it'll be, I work frontline NHS too'. Swings n roundabouts then, some may say it's more of a risk you standing in the queue and not getting in and out and away as quickly as possible after all you've been in contact with Covid patients - haven't you..

Would t bother me. I don't care at all

If someone came to me and said. I work for the nhs. May I cut in.

I'd be like. Sure. Go ahead. Anyone else?

@Apixee summed it up entirely. 🙄

Oh and hardly anyone has had a pay rise in any sector for a long time and the NHS isn't underfunded it haemorrhages money on a daily basis it's just v badly run.

Mind you. If anyone came up to me with a good reason. I work front line. I'm stupidly tired. Or. Not feeling great. Can I go ahead. I'd do it. Lols.

i do wonder if when the weather changes and your not standing in a queue in the sunshine, but in the rain, how keen people will be for folks to jump the queue??

Doesn't bother me at all. But then I'm on furlough so standing in the queue for shops is the most interesting part of my day at the moment.

If I'm honest im getting quite uncomfortable with being offered discounted and free things. And if I'm going a food shop I'll happily queue and wait my turn.

there was a research paper I read yesterday saying g that the proportion of nhs staff who die from covid is in line with general population

Bus drivers (tfl at least who have published figures) currently have the highest professional death rate. Last time i worked it out 0.003% of NHS staff have died (including retired and non- nhs staff like marie curie nurse). Vs. 0.1% of tfl staff.

I don’t get why it’s exclusively NHS. Police, transport workers, care workers are all equally busy and at risk with none of the perks. We have a haulage depot near us and the hgv drivers are camping in their vehicles, no access to food, showers, or any amenities. The local community are doing their best but as usual the shouts for the NHS are drowning out any other cries for help.

My friend is a care worker and often needs to nip to the supermarket to pick up essentials like incontinence pads. Having to wait in a massive queue while off duty NHS IT workers is a bit of a pisser. Again several care homes have put out appeals asking for those going to the supermarkets to pick up stuff, but people would rather post about pamper kits for nurses.

Bit of common sense needed.