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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Health professionals in uniform being stopped by public

219 replies

stripedsocks105 · 12/04/2018 12:16

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 ?

OP posts:
Bananamam4 · 13/04/2018 22:38

Cant you wear a bright red tabard with "DO NOT DISTURB I AM ON A BREAK" Just like the drugs round tabard 😀

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 13/04/2018 22:41

Cant you wear a bright red tabard with "DO NOT DISTURB I AM ON A BREAK" Just like the drugs round tabard 😀

GrinGrin

I've never actually worked anywhere that the drugs round tabard works. Some people just don't think it applies to them.

Thanksforthatamazingpost · 13/04/2018 22:51

Yanbu!

I am shocked about-
HCPs having nowhere to eat lunch
Nurses not being paid during breaks (is that legal?)

And I say this as someone who usually gets branded as anti HCP on mumsnet.

Thanksforthatamazingpost · 13/04/2018 22:55

I also totally agree that I want HCPs who are well rested. And if “I pay your wages” then I definitely want HCPs well rested!

If I wanted my taxes spent on doctors being unable to gather their thoughts because of holding open every door in the hospital I’d start a campaign for that.

tiddliewinkiewoo · 13/04/2018 22:57

aaah I couldn't get worked up about this - I work in the NHS and am regularly stopped by patients/relatives asking for directions and yes my break is precious - but come on - they see someone in uniform/wearing a name badge as I do as non-uniform staff and see someone 'who knows'

They're unsure of something and ask - I really couldn't get annoyed at this.

Clarebobacus · 13/04/2018 23:00

Its one of the downsides and upsides of being in a respected job. Keep in mind you are dealing with worried , stressed out peeps. think kind.

tiddliewinkiewoo · 13/04/2018 23:02

*I am shocked about-
HCPs having nowhere to eat lunch
Nurses not being paid during breaks (is that legal?)

And I say this as someone who usually gets branded as anti HCP on mumsnet.*

I think some posters are 'dramatising' a bit.

All HCP have access to a staff canteen (if we're discussing hospitals). All NHS workers have an unpaid lunch break - whether nurses or admin, porters etc. This is the norm. What isn't the norm is a 10 min break morning and/or afternoon - that is complimentary and at a manager's discretion and somewhere to take that break isn't mandatory.

HeadingForSunshine · 13/04/2018 23:03

Gosh the fury about unpaid breaks. It is pretty usual contractually to not ne paid when one isn't working. My contract says 35-40 hours. Am on my way home now having started at 8.30 this morning. Admittedly i had a half hour nreak at 2.20pm and another 7pm. If a student had needed help in those breaks I'd have willingly given it. Because I am a professional, experienced, post grad, prof quals and all that jazz.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 13/04/2018 23:14

All HCP have access to a staff canteen (if we're discussing hospitals

Gosh, I've never had a staff canteen in the eight or so hospitals I've worked in.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 13/04/2018 23:16

All HCP have access to a staff canteen (if we're discussing hospitals). All NHS workers have an unpaid lunch break - whether nurses or admin, porters etc. This is the norm. What isn't the norm is a 10 min break morning and/or afternoon - that is complimentary and at a manager's discretion and somewhere to take that break isn't mandatory.

I work in a hospital, our staff canteen is open 10-3 Monday to friday. It is almost exclusively used by admin and managers since no one else can realistically get over there (It's in a separate building so is 4 locked doors plus swipe access that most staff don't have so you have to walk around to reception to be buzzed through) in enough time and isn't open when most ward staff are taking breaks. A similar situation has been true in the 3 hospitals I've worked in. We get a 30 minute unpaid break but usually grab 5 minutes to eat lunch in the ward kitchenas long as management isn't around. This isn't "dramatising" this is the reality if working in today's NHS.

shakeyourcaboose · 13/04/2018 23:19

All HCP have access to a staff canteen (if we're discussing hospitals. The bastards have kept that quiet in the years I've been in the NHS!

tiddliewinkiewoo · 13/04/2018 23:25

This isn't "dramatising" this is the reality if working in today's NHS

Well like yourself I should have put 'in my experience' in front of my post. Apologies.

I know the reality of working in the NHS, by no means long service but 15 years.

In my trust all 7 hospitals have a staff canteen - yours and Hopeless' posts have shown me that it isn't across the board.

I often take my lunch at my desk as the workload is so demanding - I could, as staff policy, walk away from my desk and take my half hour unpaid lunch break. As you can.

I'm really surprised that some hospitals don't have 'restaurants/canteens' - That's something new I've learnt. I thought all general hospitals had them.

tiddliewinkiewoo · 13/04/2018 23:28

Where are these hospitals with no facilities for patients/staff to eat?? BTW that doesn't mean you don't utilise them, just that they're not there full stop!

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 13/04/2018 23:31

Tiddliewinkiewoo plenty of the new PFI hospitals. One I'm very familiar with lacks a doctors mess because they decided to take it over for admin.

tiddliewinkiewoo · 13/04/2018 23:38

Private hospitals? Well they're a totally different ball game and don't come under the umbrella of NHS trusts and therefore won't have the same standard services. I really am surprised that there are any NHS general hospitals that don't have facilities for staff and visitors to eat.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 14/04/2018 00:04

I work in mental health and of the 3 trust's I've worked in none have had visitors cafes, even for outpatients.
Where I work now I the only place that has staff canteen but like I said is not actually used by ward staff due to location and opening hours.

Bagadverts · 14/04/2018 00:07

vinobel If someone is in a uniform I wouldn't expect them to hold open the door and try to let them past. However as I'm partially sighted I may not even see you trying to get past and am concentrating what's ahead and on not falling over.

heebiejeebie · 14/04/2018 00:10

Our trust have an absolute policy that whilst you are in the hospital with your badge on you are representing the Trust and there to help people as much as you can in whatever way you can.

We are asked to stop and ask puzzled looking people if they need help. I think it's a brilliant initiative. Everyone that bit happier, calmer, on time for their appointments, less stressed when they visit their relatives. If your day is so horrendous that you can't find 30 seconds to help someone who is lost, something has gone wrong.

tiddliewinkiewoo · 14/04/2018 00:13

Are you based in a general hospital formerly? I really am surprised if so and will be bringing it up with my union - we have a meeting on Monday re pay but I'm horrified that there are hospitals where staff/patients/visitors don't have somewhere to go to eat. Staff, whether nurses, HCA, admin etc have an unpaid lunch break. Those posters claiming they don't take them/aren't allowed can take their employer to a tribunal as it's law.

FrameyMcFrame · 14/04/2018 00:14

I was lost in a hospital and a uniformed staff member approached me to offer helpSmile

MrsLemonadeBrain · 14/04/2018 00:17

heebie I 100% agree and I really love to help people.
My problem however is when People ask me for directions and my personal geography/spacial awareness/ sense of direction is so crap I can’t explain it to people properly 😂😂😂

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 14/04/2018 00:18

PFI are NHS hospitals that are new builds based on loans. Quite a few of them don't have areas for staff.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 14/04/2018 00:19

Gosh,is it really that inconvenient to be helpful and courteous during your working day in the public sector.

whywhywhywhywhyyy · 14/04/2018 00:20

@allthegoodusernamesshavegone Is it really that inconvient to approach someone employed to help you find things rather than a member of staff in the canteen obviously on their break?

MrsLemonadeBrain · 14/04/2018 00:20

Please don’t ask me for directions, the lanyard and badge are a lie. We will both get lost...

It took me twenty minutes to walk the 250 meters from my ward to the anti natal clinic.

Please don’t ask me for help. I’m hopeless

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