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Original poster

Nurses - do you want hand cream and bubble bath and takeaways?

63 replies

Feedingthebirds1 · 30/01/2021 23:10

Sorry I know nurses have posted about this before. Someone I know is raising funds for exactly those things (and other bits) to recognise the sacrifices nurses have made and has set a high target they want to achieve.

From what I remember reading on here, nurses aren't desperate for those things and I'm reluctant to contribute until I've checked.

And is there anything else that would be better received/more useful? I'd rather give to that if there is. I've nothing against nurses, please don't get me wrong, it's just my recollection that actually they're not particularly wanted and I'd prefer to do something that is. Happy to be told I'm wrong if that's not the case.

OP posts:
Oldmummybear · 31/01/2021 02:04

I'm bumping this because I'm so grateful for the staff at my local hospital, and I would like to know what would be appreciated.

Momof2boys1girl · 31/01/2021 02:11

Hi, thank you for thinking of donating. We don’t expect gifts but if we get them those items you said are lovely. We also appreciate good quality tea, coffee, hot chocolate, cordial. Items that make our shift a little nicer. X

WhatWouldJohnSay · 31/01/2021 02:17

Oh yes please! At the moment wrapped things are better, say roses etc rather than a tray of chocs/biccies.
Also little lip balms because it is HOT under masks.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Care homes
Gracie65 · 31/01/2021 02:23

Hand creams gratefully appreciated. Many of us suffer with sore/dry hands from washing them so much.

Kroptopbelly · 31/01/2021 03:57

This is nice.
First wave we got loads of lovely stuff, this time we buy our own and share it with each other. Some of my colleagues bake for their shifts too.

We showered before leaving work so we reduced the risk of taking the virus home with us.
Now as we have no shower gels or shampoos we don’t.
It’s straight up to the shower when we get home.
But creams are good for extremely sore, dry hands and faces from the masks.

But. What would be better, would be lovely shower gels, dry shampoos, deodorant lip balms for our patients.
Because they are rushed in with absolutely nothing.
No visitors allowed, family members have COVID usually if they live together so can’t leave the house or are too unwell so can’t bring anything in for them.
I had a lady sobbing on me yesterday because she was gasping for breath with that hot mask strapped to her face blasting out oxygen, cracked bleeding lips, only her mobile phone with her, desperately worried about her husband and grown up kids at her home with Covid, terrified that she is dying and I couldn’t find anything to put on her lips.
One of the nurses came back after her shift with a new lip balm for the lady that she brought in from her home.
The need is greater there.
Thank you.

ClockworkNightingale · 31/01/2021 06:08

Absolutely agreed with the above, the NHS toiletries are beyond basic, it's so much nicer to be able to offer patients the sorts of soaps etc that they would use at home.

DriveThroughSwabber · 31/01/2021 06:22

Is the friend who is fundraising an MLM seller (e.g. Body Shop at Home, Avon, Topic etc)?

If so, please steer well clear. These 'fundraisers' are just to hit their selling targets and get the next 'promotion', whilst making other people pay for it, and the seller looks good.

Camomila · 31/01/2021 07:36

Toiletries for the patients sound like a great idea.

DBro is a paramedic and some days his ambulance station has been donated so many takeaways its just another thing to think about/logistics of it all not going off etc.

ditavonteesed · 31/01/2021 07:39

HAnd cream absolutely, bubble bath is a yes, I would have to say no on the take away as I'm trying so hard to get healthier but that might just be me.

blackheartsgirl · 31/01/2021 09:44

Don't forget to include domestics who work on covid wards too please. We clean covid wards and don't get to see any of these donations. We have to wear the hotmasks and wash our hands countless of times.
I'v gone home with cracked and bleeding lips and very sore hands after my shifts but as one nurse said to a colleague once you're just a cleaner we save lives. But we catch and die from covid just as much as they do

DaisyDreaming · 31/01/2021 10:21

@blackheartsgirl I would like to see that nurse cope if you all weren’t there working hard cleaning!

SciFiScream · 31/01/2021 10:36

@blackheartsgirl domestics are part of the team that help save lives. If you don't clean then what? Cleanliness is important for public health too.

blackheartsgirl · 31/01/2021 12:34

Were not seen like that though a lot of the time.

First lockdown when so much was donated to hospitals etc our team never saw anything at all. It just didn't occur to the ward staff.

We do get looked down upon. Invisible a lot of the time. We take pride in our work but its so disheartening sometimes

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 31/01/2021 12:36

I really appreciate nurses and all NHS staff in all of this but before we shower them with luxuries such as takeaways please consider your local food banks/charities that help people in need.

I know the one near me the uptake from the elderly or family's with parents who have lost their jobs has massively increased. Last week they had no food left and were asking for donations.

Please don't take this as a bashing thread, yes sending toiletries and handcreams is a wonderful idea but if you can only afford to help one group of people I would rather a family had food on the table or a child got some clothes that fit after they have grown. Young children don't understand and haven't got the means to get the things they need. Also a small gift or birthday cake on a child's birthday where the family can't afford anything will mean more than a handcream to a nurse.

DWPmisery1972 · 31/01/2021 12:40

How would One go about delivering this stuff to the hospital? Could you post it or drop it off? What’s best? I’d love to help out if I can.

DinnaeFashSassenach · 31/01/2021 12:49

@DriveThroughSwabber

Is the friend who is fundraising an MLM seller (e.g. Body Shop at Home, Avon, Topic etc)?

If so, please steer well clear. These 'fundraisers' are just to hit their selling targets and get the next 'promotion', whilst making other people pay for it, and the seller looks good.

I came here to post that. It's an excuse to sell more in the guise of charity. It's not. It's also virtue signalling shite being so public about it. I know one who is selling wax melts to donate to NHS staff. Yeah, I'm sure they'll come in handy on the wards.
Original poster
Feedingthebirds1 · 31/01/2021 12:49

@DriveThroughSwabber

Is the friend who is fundraising an MLM seller (e.g. Body Shop at Home, Avon, Topic etc)?

If so, please steer well clear. These 'fundraisers' are just to hit their selling targets and get the next 'promotion', whilst making other people pay for it, and the seller looks good.

No. I've changed some details (the principle absolutely remains the same) but definitely not. I know enough about MLMs not to go there!!
OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 31/01/2021 13:13

Gifts are lovely, but I think most nurses want to be paid fairly for our work so we can buy these things for ourselves.

I think time and effort would be better spent writing to your MP encouraging them to support an increase to pay, and reminding them of the huge decrease to nurses pay over the last decade.

DogsSausages · 31/01/2021 13:17

The hospital may have a charity or benevolent department, we raised funds through GoFundMe and the charity office to buy treats which were delivered to wards and departments. Everyone working appreciates the treats not just nurses.

Hairyfairy01 · 31/01/2021 13:25

Kroptopbelly oxygen and lip balm?!? I'm getting twitchy just thinking about that, although I am aware that a few are compatible.
Hand creams, food, lip balms, moisturisers, bubble baths etc all very much appreciated in my hospital.

Original poster
Feedingthebirds1 · 31/01/2021 13:30

I really appreciate nurses and all NHS staff in all of this but before we shower them with luxuries such as takeaways please consider your local food banks/charities that help people in need.

In my case at least it's not an either/or. I hope it wouldn't be for anyone else donating, and I don't think it would.

OP posts:
HildegardNightingale · 31/01/2021 13:30

Could you donate the money to provide a vaccine to a third world country instead?|
A world without COVID would be a health workers greatest wish.

Original poster
Feedingthebirds1 · 31/01/2021 13:32

@Hairyfairy01, why the twitching? Please explain if there's a chance it's not a good idea.

OP posts:
Original poster
Feedingthebirds1 · 31/01/2021 13:37

@HildegardNightingale

Could you donate the money to provide a vaccine to a third world country instead?| A world without COVID would be a health workers greatest wish.
I appreciate where you're coming from, but the UK govt. has already given £548m to Covax, and the US has pledged $4bn. I think our £1 - £2k can be spent on our healthcare workers.
OP posts:
davidsSchitt · 31/01/2021 13:41

"oxygen and lip balm?!? I'm getting twitchy just thinking about that, although I am aware that a few are compatible."

Because??