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.

Yes of course! You must be knackered. I couldn’t do your job.

Also,now the work is less intense were not so scarey looking.I only have one pressure sore on my face left.

No. The know an MHS worker who is milking it. Does an admin role 16 hours a week ( to get tax credits -she could work longer now her kids are teens) never normally sees patients anyway but now working at home. So part time working at home no constraints on when she can shop but still crows about showing her card and being ushered through first. Last week she went to Asda specifically to buy plants -nothing else and played the the same card.

Today reported that 40% beds available (usually 20% at this time of year) so people have stepped up and ruined their lives for 'our NHS' which has never had it easier.

Yes OP at the moment, I'd be happy to let front line NHS staff ahead of me for lots of reasons. That would also apply to emergency workers (who I always let head of me in queues anyway if they're in uniform).

You're doing a demanding and very difficult job for starters. Secondly even if you never show symptoms, you have been in contact with the virus so have a higher chance of picking it up and passing it on so the less time you spend in queues etc. the less chance you'll do that. I can wait a bit longer.

Today reported that 40% beds available (usually 20% at this time of year) so people have stepped up and ruined their lives for 'our NHS' which has never had it easier

What an absolute pile of fucking shite! Quoting just one statistic out of context is demonstrably ignorant.

Yes, bed capacity is reduced due to elective work being temporarily halted (am going to a meeting on Monday about starting it again) and more conservative surgical management being used for trauma. The patients that are in hospital are considerably sicker and of course we are also looking after Covid +ve patients so are constantly donning and doffing PPE.

We’ve lost a large proportion of staff due to elevated sickness levels, self-isolation and shielding and may be about to lose more when further BAME guidance is agreed.

It’s still a scary time, I’m putting myself (and my family) in harms way and hard bloody work! To have that dismissed due to a few quieter days and and a misunderstood statistic is pretty bloody galling.

No we are not. Many will have PPE when dealing directly with people (care setting/residential/community nursing) but they are not only dealing with people with covid. We are not having to do procedures such as ventilation. We are not in confined spaces where covid virus is continually being expelled.

Care workers and district nurses have PPE. But retail staff don’t. Maybe they have some gloves, maybe a plastic barrier at the checkout which can be easily navigated but they have people invading their space. what PPE do bus drivers have? Prison staff don’t have PPE. Prison staff have had outbreaks of Covid-19 in their prisons and been dealing with inmates as patients as well having to keep the public safe. Teachers for key workers children do not have PPE. They’re in confined spaces with children that could be carrying the virus from their parents. As for no other key workers is providing ventilation for patients - do you honestly think that is the only job related stress at the moment? Teachers up and down the country aren’t worried about the emotional well being of their students, how they are coping, if they are falling behind. Do you want the emotional well being of all those students on your shoulders?

Nowhere did I say all key workers are under that same pressure but there are several key worker group that are not getting recognition, extra perks or PPE to make their job safer. The NHS isn’t the only key worker industry and there are staff in many other industries working hard and facing unprecedented stresses. The NHS might be starting to recognise care workers but it still doesn’t mean that a care worker is getting the preferential treatment that NHS workers are getting.

The problem is, many people think of the NHS as a whole and the experience of one ward or hospital representing the entire NHS and it doesn't.

Even some NHS workers seem to think that. My local super hospital had a couple of busy weeks mid April but has been quiet more than not.

There is full staffing, no-one is doing over their contracted hours unless they've chosen to. Staff are being encouraged to take leave.

What is a problem now is the fact that there is virtually NO bank work available because it IS so quiet. And that's with enhanced levels of staff sickness/self isolation due to CV within the trust.

People who previously were guaranteed full time and more on the bank are currently out of work because there is NO work for them. And those previously working their contracted hours but relying on a bank shift or 2 a month to top up are now seeing a fall in their income.

So it's inaccurate to portray the entire NHS as being depeleted as in some areas it is, and that is a problem of course but it is not representative of the whole and not based on a 'few quiet days', it's weeks.

We are doing extra hours. We are not allowed leave.

Agree withSauvignon. It's upsetting and galling to read nasty posts. That's all really - nhs runs on goodwill and hard work.

Dial - you are talking about nursing staffing there. It's different for the medical staffing - we are always short and now we are very short with increased demands.

The level of over- generalisation, inability to listen to those actually experiencing the frontline,mean - minded offensiveness and dismissal of nhs medical staff views and information on this thread from some posters is shocking. I don't know why I expect better and don't know why I let it wind me up.
We will continue to do our best, don't call us heroes, don't clap but don't tell us what our job is or isn't either when your level of complete ignorance is blatantly obvious.

I'm out. See you in the queue.

Thanks for the thread, I went to the supermarket today and went to the front of the queue safe in the knowledge that everybody in it hated me and thought I was taking the piss. Such fun.

CakeAndGin

What are all these perks NHS staff are getting ? I would love to know so can pass
on to my colleagues as morale is low we are emotionally and physically exhausted we may think yay was all worth it when we didn’t have adequate PPE and were dealing with covid, when we are covering two jobs as so many staff are off self isolating (positive) when we have done hours of unpaid overtime

Or is PPE a perk ?

No one has said that other key workers are not worthy of being clapped for or getting to go into a shop earlier or the odd discount (I would rather my wage reflected my work I would be a few hundred pounds better off this month but hey I get to shop really early if I chose to and get discount for takeaways woohoo). Believe me all the other discounts are a marketing gimmick

Companies are letting their staff down by not providing PPE (I along with colleagues bought masks online to wear out of work). Prison staff didn’t have adequate PPE (mh was also bottom of the list) neither did we. Teachers should be provided with PPE when it’s necessary.

Even though my work has been far more stressful (forensic mh unit) and I have been at risk I do not put myself into the category of those truly on the frontline and neither does anyone I know and neither do they think care worker or other key workers are not under stress

Agree some nasty bitter comments all because of what exactly ? What are all these perks

Covid is this year's must have and we've got an unparalleled opportunity to catch it - that must be the perk!

Im heavily pregnant and think the elderly pregnant and disabled should go ahead before anyone else, especially when it’s hot and you are queuing in direct sunlight

It's OK you saying that it was fun others in the queue were pissed off but do you realise the abuse my staff take when customers get pissed off at queue jumping. We've had our staff reduced to tears and had their personal safety threatened but as long as u had fun eh...

@Tonz then head office and/or the branch need to change policy. If it has been made clear that NHS staff can go to the front, then they need to put the appropriate measures in place. You cant really moan at people just using something they are eligible for.

It's OK you saying that it was fun others in the queue were pissed off but do you realise the abuse my staff take when customers get pissed off at queue jumping. We've had our staff reduced to tears and had their personal safety threatened but as long as u had fun eh...

Think she was sarcastically saying it's fun ( AS IN NOT FUN)
And you can hardly blame her for your staff issues when it's a policy- you need to manage that better and communicate policies.

As in maybe do your own job better??

Soph88888 do you not usually let those that maybe struggling ahead of you when at the till tomorrow ?

I do and would assume many on here do (but now beginning to wonder)

Clemmieandareallybigbunfight Oh yes forgot that little perk catching it easily overlooked as so insignificant

The fun remark is sarcastic.

The issue is not with my staff thanks the issue is the customers getting pissed off and taking it out on my staff.
I'm very fucking good at my job which is why I'm promoted to where I am

Not sure what tomorrow (after till) popped up

Well not if you can't manage your queue?

Communicate your policy to the queuers and don't tolerate bad behaviour.

Take responsibility.

Put up more signs that might help Tonz