Should NHS staff go ahead in queues?

[JustOneLastThing]

I have only done it once, and got some evil looks from the others queuing. It was my only day off and was knackered and needed some essentials so thought 'just this once'-might not do it again!
It sort of felt like all the clapping in the world and rainbows doesn't mean much in the real world, but I might be a bit more careful about waving my lanyard around in the future (and yes, i'm frontline ward NHS staff working on covid wards fwiw).
Any thoughts from others very welcome.

Absolutely! I think there should be some differentiation between front line and say admin with only the front line allowed but know this is impossible with staff passes.

Sorry but if you can't be bothered to queue just send husband /spouse? I don't get it where I am whoever you are you wait as long as the next person to get in to the shop

I’m nhs, I don’t expect to jump any queue.

However we do have NHS shopping hour, which I really appreciate. I think that’s enough.

@NoKnit sorry to drip feed but DP can't go out as he's 'medium risk' according to the GP so it's me or no one (plus he doesn't drive so cant bring back shipping on a push bike)

I did it once on my way home after a night shift (I had no food in my flat, and was really tired and couldn't mentally face the lines). I don't normally do it, because I try to time my shops to my days off when I can (and I don't have a lot to do on my days off at the moment).
I think that they should go ahead in queues but people doing so need to responsible with it - admin working from home probably shouldn't be doing it.

Well some admin are on the front line too - admin working a and e reception are so front line they practically have bayonets....

I use my badge once a week for food shopping. I don't feel great about it, feels very not British but I'm away from my family all week at work, I stifle my concerns about what I'm bringing home, I think skipping a queue is not an unreasonable perk given I reckon most of the people in the queue would run a mile if asked to do my job in my place of work.

Sorry no I don’t really get the NHS queue jumping to be honest.

Of course you should go to the front. Every single time. Hold your head up high and be proud of what you're doing.

Yes. They need a perk to being on the frontline.

I didn't know this was a thing. And no I don't really think they should jump the queue. I'm sure they work hard and do a risky job at the moment but so do loads of people their whole working lives.

Yes they should

And I won't let dh go in supermarkets. He's asthmatic but most Importantly he's a man. Far more likely to need hospital care in case of Covid. Tbh I think we should have put them all in forcible quarantine

Which shop is this out of interest?

A friend who is a midwife working 3 days a week and a husband at home working only 2 days a week (not NHS) told me about this a few days ago. Apparently Aldi and Lidl let you go to the front of the queue?

Yes you should do it. And for the love of god, please don't start sentences with 'sorry, but'. You're not sorry, you just disagree. Own it.

No absolutely not. It's fair enough having priority shopping times for key workers but queue jumping is totally inappropriate. I'll also probably get flamed for this but although I massively respect the contribution that NHS staff are making in the current crisis they are not the only people who are working on the front line at the moment and I feel a little uncomfortable that they are singled out for special treatment.

I don't see a need for it personally. The dedicated shopping hour, fine, but this, no. Perhaps if they have a disability then yes, but otherwise I can't imagine skipping the queue and especially not walking past elderly or people with disabilities who may struggle to stand. I may be biased though as I am disabled and have difficulty standing for any length of time. My Mother is entitled to go to the front of the queue in many stores but she feels it's unnecessary and wouldn't consider using it.

A lot of key workers work long hours and only get one day off and don't get to queue jump so no if its your day off you have the same time as everyone else to queue.
On your way home from a long shift it wouldn't bother me if you queue jumped

100% yes, it is the least people can do for a frontline covid ward nurse. 💐

I'd much rather you go to the front of the queue than to spend a minute clapping on a Thursday evening and think I'm wonderful.

My neighbours clap and smoke whilst they are doing it. I know what most NHS staff would prefer.

Most shops have specific times when you can do this, usually at or even before the normal start of the day.

No. And I am one of them.

@Tonz the issue with that is that I work from 7am-9.30pm at night. The shops are closed when I get to (eventually, and never on time) leave work. Pulling in 50+ hours a week. We have to go home and wash our uniforms and I shower and strip as soon as I get in.

No

I don't feel they should be able to queue jump, no. Yes, they're doing physically and mentally difficult jobs working long, mad hours with people who are very ill but so are a lot of other people, for example, prison staff or care home staff. Do people in other essential jobs get preferential treatment, such as police officers, firefighters, shop assistants and lots of others in forgotten front line services?