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.

@chinnyreckon123 I still don’t understand how it is helping the way you feel or how exhausted you are - if you don’t want it don’t take it. If you do want it take it. If anyone else who is entitled to it chooses to do one or the other then let them.

What’s the next suggestion - petition companies to STOP giving things to NHS workers? The mind honestly boggles. Focus on the things that matter to you - clearly this really matters to you, but I’m not sure how it is helping you or anyone else to moan about it.

do social care workers get the same treatment? Food delivery drivers? I'm all for supporting the NHS but there are lots of other essential workers too - and I feel especially sorry for the care workers going into people's homes, or working in care homes, often without the same degree of PPE as health care workers. I am a bit uneasy about all the special treatment of NHS staff and not other key workers.

Gizmo79 - Modern matron 8a so pay scale £42- £52k p/a working 3 long shifts a week as most hospitals do; plus unsocial hours payments for those shifts.

Working 3 long days a week so able to pick up bank shifts at weekends with unsocial hours. Paid at 8a.

Adds up.

Not usually frontline. Usually recruitment, travelling on NHS expenses to other countries to recruit nurses as we don't have enough. Currently redeployed to frontline.

I'm not saying it's typical. I'm saying it happens. And they are benefitting the NHS from recruiting overseas nurses that we need and currently helping out frontline. But they don't need free food.

I can't believe the attitude from you OP about people from the NHS getting to go in before you. These people are risking their lives every single day so that you can sit at home and paint your fence, have some gosh darn respect for crying out loud. As far as I'm concerned they should never have to queue for anything ever again.

Bit of a piss take in b and q. I wouldn’t have minded in the supermarket. It should only be for nurses and doctors in the front line and of course care workers, who tend to be forgotten about. My cousin who’s just started an admin job in the local hospital. 20 hours per week. She thinks she’s entitled to these perks??

I had to bite my tongue when BIL (project manager in scientific company but very much non medical himself and working from home currently because he can) told me he had gone to NHS hour at the supermarket because he is a key worker.

I'm a clinician on a COVID ward, had my training suspended to go onto a new rota of long days and nights. No "weekends" any more, just 24/7 rolling rota. The brass neck of it!

@Gizmo79 what does any of that have to do with skipping the queue at B&Q?

I imagine the NHS staff with the time (and energy) to go to B&Q aren’t those working frontline roles.

@Kasabian23 perhaps you missed her post telling is that she is indeed nhs -just finished shifts on a Covid ward. Maybe read a little further before spouting your drivel.

P.S. I go to the supermarket on my rare days off and queue.

Staff who are working IN A HOSPITAL regardless of their role are putting themselves at risk. Admin staff can be on wards with Covid+ patients as I am. It is a very stressful place to be at the moment

@Thedot90

What is it you don't understand? I'm querying WHY NHS workers are 'entitled' to it and often don't need it, and other equally essential, valuable workers, often much lower paid are NOT.

It's a weird societal issue which highlights the often erroneous view that ALL NHS workers are 'heroes' working on the front line and should get free stuff and get clapped and go to the front of the queue when there are many other workers vital to keeping the country running, putting themselves at the same or more risk, and often for far less money who get nothing.

If that doesn't bother you, and you just want to think it's kind and appreciative, that's fine.

But there are many others worthy too and far more likely to need to benefit from things that save them money.

And i'm as entitled to express my opinion as you are.

YANBU. It’s been a great sound bite hasn’t it - ‘save the NHS’, dreamed up by the fuckers who have been slowly destroying it.

I thought the NHS hours were because of the food shortages after the ‘great stockpiling’ which isn’t so much of an issue now. Obviously this jumping the queue thing is a PR exercise for the shops now. There are plenty of other essential workers who work shifts, and who are working harder than the nurses who have time to choreograph dance routines so it seems .

Good for you chinnyreckon sorry wasn’t having a go, just wishing the wages🤣🤣
No, it has nothing to do with anything hence why I apologised for ranting. Life is crap atm. For some more than others. But maybe if some are doing what I do, then queue jumping at B & Q will mean they get to actually see their family for a bit more than currently. If I have less than 12 hours between shifts, do I really need to be in a queue for more than an hour before then seeing my kids for a bit before going to bed and not sleeping as I am terrified of going to work.... thanks for your consideration. Really nice.

@Gizmo79 Oh, it's not me. I'm Band 7 but not frontline anymore and part time
WFH since lockdown and was supposed to increase my hours before lockdown but now can't as not even enough work to do from home to justify increased hours but would be if we get 'back to normal' but even when we do, manager saying due to costs of COVID from budgets, it's unlikely.

It's my best mate who's band 8 and currently redeployed frontline. Don't begrudge them the pay at all but I can't say I don't feel envious sometimes. Especially pre-COVID when they're jetting off all expenses paid to recruitment fairs in Europe and Dubai!

They're definitely helping the NHS and worth the money and definitely not reflective of NHS workers as a whole, but I wouldn't be human I don't think if I wasn't a teeny bit jealous!

I’m an 8a , full time and I take home £2,500.

Is that about 42k annual?

Yes

Ok so the backlash has finally started.
So those of you who resent the 'preferential ' treatment accorded to NHS staff email the supermarkets etc and complain. We never asked for it and certainly don't feel superior to other keyworkers - it was presumably a goodwill gesture made to staff on the frontline. If you want to blame somebody, then blame the governments that you vote in for allowing corporations to treat low paid workers so despicably with their non-liveable minimum wage and gig economy.
Fwiw last 2 months I've not got off on time and rolled up at home at 10pm but hey I'm busy choreographing staff dances on youtube instead.

I would be happy to let frontline workedrs ahead of me and would do it off my back even without the rule in place.
I am a sahm with my dh working from home and no way do i need or want to be ahead of frontline nhs staff. I would urge you to use your badges and go to the front. The thought of an utterly exhausted nhs member of staff whether that be a doctor or a porter who has been working long and tiring shifts queuing to get their groceries sickens me.

Top of 8a would be just over 3k net then, with additional payments for unsocial hours (not sure how that works, is a % taken for pension or just taxed?). Would it be a 25% increase in salary? 4k might be feasible in that case?

(Just interested really)

YABU. And I don't believe you work front line c-19.

While I know not all nhs are working on covid wards and some don't need to jump the queue we have no way of knowing who is taking the piss and who isn't. For that reason it's fairer to just let all nhs do it rather than miss the ones who need to

12.5% pension contribution. At least, that is what I pay. I am on the newest system, not sure about people who are on the old system.

Oh.that's not so bad, I was talking to someone who said they paid 25%!