Health professionals in uniform being stopped by public

[stripedsocks105]

Hi! I've namechanged because I feel quite guilty.

I work as a uniformed HCP, when I'm at work I like to use the hospital shops/ canteen to buy lunch etc. Each time- I mean EVERY time I'm always stopped by hospital users to ask for directions to whatever ward/service they need to use. I'm polite and generally tell them where they can find out the information (there's usually volunteers nearby at each entrance to give out info) but this happens when I'm on the phone, reading etc.

I know this sounds incredibly selfish but I've only got a limited time to get food, eat it, return to ward. I've always got a coat/ cardigan on so looking as off duty as I possibly could. I know it's just friendly and helpful but WIBU to just want leaving alone to walk and eat food in peace ?

Some attitudes on here are awful and quite selfish.

A family member of mine was recently in intensive care, amazing nurses and drs working constantly with them and other patients. The idea of them, after all their hard work more or less keeping people alive, not being able to just sit and have a break, eat something and even stare in to space before stepping back in to full on mode is making me irrationally (or maybe rationally) irritated.

When I was cabin crew, I was commuting home by train. A member of the public started to accost me and ranted about how XYZ Airways lost her bags. I didn’t even work for XYZ. I turned my music up and closed my eyes. She threatened to report me to the airline I didn’t even work for until the train manager basically told her to leave me alone!

Another time, a man presumed I worked for Cross Country Trains. He complained about his train being delayed. I said I didn’t work for them, he called me a liar and started ranting at me, quite aggressively. He only stopped when I told him I was contacting the police and that he was a nasty little man. Couldn’t get away from me fast enough.

I don’t like people. That’s why I work in an office now.

SurferRona - some people may be vulnerable yes. A major of people are just dicks I’m afraid!

I don’t think anybody has said they wouldn’t help somebody who was clearly confused or upset and elderly. Most people are not.

Many years ago, the hospital I was working at combined the staff and public canteens. I have lost count of the number of precious half-hour unpaid meal breaks I spent with my paediatric patient’s parents. They would come into the canteen, plonk themselves down at my table and then proceed to discuss their child with me. I wanted to shout ‘just fuck off and give me a break’. I feel for you OP and no, YNBU.

I think you just have to get used to it. Or change as someone has already said. They mean no harm.

I totally get you! I work in a public institution (not healthcare related) where we have uniformed staff whose job it is to direct people around all day. I am in a ‘back of house’ role but the second I step out of the office in my lanyard I have people telling me that the cubicle in the toilet downstairs has run out of paper, or asking me for directions to some part of the building I’ve never heard of. I KNOW they’re not being unreasonable because to them I’m just a representative of the institution but I can’t help feeling seriously annoyed sometimes!

I do try to help but sometimes it gets ridiculous. Like last week when I was literally half way up a ladder, needing to concentrate, and somebody came and shouted up to me to ask directions to the loo rather than asking the uniformed attendant two feet away. Sometimes I do just have to say ‘I’m sorry, I’m afraid I can’t help right now but I’m sure one of my colleagues in the uniforms will be delighted to assist!’

A major of people are just dicks I’m afraid!

HCP???

The last time I was walking through hospital corridors trying to find the right department, a member of staff in uniform actually came up to me and asked if I needed any help with directions, as I clearly looked lost. I was really grateful to her.

I work in hospital, don't see it as a problem and in fact, I ask if any one is looking lost where they want to go and guide them.
Recently I met an elderly couple who drove to our hospital on Sunday to see where their appointment was so they can attend the husbands appointment the following week. It was an eye opener for me as they could have easily asked for a hospital transport Took time to draw the route to a side entrance to our hospital, where they could easily park and how they can get into the outpatient department once they are in the hospital.. If I need to talk to someone ( like School/ friends etc., ) it will in a private place..I think it is unreasonable OP.

I am the archetypal, middle aged Englishwoman. Even in France, French people ask me directions.

I understand this being annoying, I'm not a health professional but use to work retail. I wore normal clothes and would remove name badge on break/lunch. Sometimes I'd go out for a quick food shop at my job, on break or to browse store which was massive and about half the time I'd have someone come over and pester me because they recognised me.

Even had someone bug me when I was carrying my messenger bag and obviously had headphones in listening to music. It was obvious the people bugging me knew I wasn't working, they just didnt give a crap because they're selfish.

Last week I was at the hospital for a scan and went to have lunch in the cafe after, I saw a woman in uniform sitting and eating at a table and someone actually went over and pestered her, so rude.

headingforsunshine there is a difference between smashing a door in someones face (which i wouldn't do) and standing waiting to the side, holding a door for 10-20 people milling around as they walk past and expect that it part of our job to do it for them as NHS staff!! Im not a door man! and its nothing to do with 'being arrogant' - when I'm off duty i would always hold doors open etc - i just think that there should be a realisation sometimes that staff might need priority right of way

but yes thats your customer is always right attitude

It's the pay back for every time they have called people "lovey", "dear", "sausage", "mum". Entirely deserved .

I'm really sorry but respect for time, space and dignity is mutual. For as long as a person wears a uniform they are a representative of the organisation.

headingforsunshine exactly my point - MUTUAL. so it works BOTH ways.... so when staff are genuinely trying to get somewhere quickly to do their jobs (help people) they should be allowed to get access past.

and excuse me - but every day i am called the same by patients- "love" "duck" "dear" because I'm a young female - never my name, (and i always introduce myself), or my title

sorry but a lot of patients don't give any where near the level of 'time, dignity or space' that they expect to receive

Heading for Sunshine - it is massively daft for a doctor to stand holding open a door for those not currently recieving medical care, when they could be administering healthcare to their patients. They have a job to do, and anyone expecting them to prioritize holding a door open is taking them away from time doing that job - you know, helping patients. That is the last word in arrogance. And also stealing from patients, which is just unspeakably shitty.

Where I used to work, there was a sign in the restaurant saying that staff took priority over other customers to be served. So many patients complained that it was stopped and staff have to wait in line during their short breaks.

We were banned from drinking water as patients complained that staff looked unprofessional. Because it’s far better to collapse, from dehydration, that’s really professional.

This customer service mentality has gone way too far with some people thinking they own healthcare workers. The line “I pay your wages” is often trotted out despite the majority of people using more NHS resources than their taxes will ever pay for.

I'm awfully sorry but there's a huge difference between three medics, three abreast expecting a scummy patient to stand aside whilst they chat and a professional person heading to an emergency call.

A huge difference betweeen a Dr introducing him or herself as Dr or Mr x whilsr using the patient's first name and assuming that is acceptable. It isn't.

vinobel I imagine patients who call you love, duck, dear are working class. We, the great unwashed public, are regularly told nurses are highly trained post grad professionals. I don't think highly educated people are expected to use such terms. When a nurse says to me "you mum" I'll correct it. It's reductive. I expect highly trained folk in the top 1-2% to know better

It isn't a race to the bottom.

@Polarbearflavour - I agree. It makes me feel we should introduce compulsory medical insurance and refuse treatment to the poorly behaved, which is something I am in fact deeply opposed to. But it makes me so cross that HCPs are treated with such a lack of care and respect at work. Not allowed to talk to each other or sit down or eat lunch or walk three abreast, according to some posters on this thread. I don't get why people think that's an ok way to treat anybody at work, let alone to treat somebody highly trained and taking care of ourselves and those we love, whose ability to do that may well be enhanced by being hydrated etc. Sheesh.

I was in Tesco last Friday wearing a navy fleece. I quite helpfully guided 3 different people to different aisles and suggested a man look in the tinned veg aisle for tinned mushrooms and not the tinned tomato aisle. Five minutes later I passed him and he said 'cheers love, you were right about the mushrooms'.

I work in tax, not Tesco but my fault for the navy fleece.

Oh for goodness sake if you walk three abreast along a narrow corridor and refuse to break step it's beyond rude. What exactly don't you understand about that. It's no different than on a pavement.

@KTheGrey - indeed, no wonder the NHS is short of 42,000 nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and occupational therapists! I’m not sure on the figures for other healthcare workers. The student nurse drop out rate is over 20%

I'd be very pleased if a pay at delivery system were introduced. Like in continental europe and aus where healthcare provision is more about patients' needs.

maddiemookins16mum - why didn’t you just say “I don’t work here” and move on?

I have a relative who works as a nurse in the USA. She is relatively well paid but the “customer is king” mentality means some patients treat her like a servant. They get customer survey feedback and complaints about really trivial, non-nursing issues. She was told off for not smiling enough at one patient who percieved her as being grumpy and then told off for being too “familiar” with another patient by being too friendly. Can’t win.

@Polarbearflavour - ironic, isn't it; people join the NHS with a genuine belief in service, but this is eroded by people pisstaking with their demands that the NHS staff not only serve but slave and are not entitled to be treated with normal human dignity. It is a "me-first" mentality killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. That 20% dropout rate is awful ☹️