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 ?

Tiddliewink. Well for one, Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford lost it’s restaurant when they did their PFI new build. The former restaurant site is now a barren open space with a few benches that nobody uses. Staff now have to bring their own food or buy something at the on site M&S. They then are expected to eat it at one of a number of tables by the coffee shop in the general atrium. Lovely and relaxing.

whywhywhywhywhyyy Sat 14-Apr-18 00:18:11
PFI are NHS hospitals that are new builds based on loans. Quite a few of them don't have areas for staff.

No they are not NHS hospitals - they are private companies paid to take over NHS services.

And as said before - those who claim to have no facilities such as a canteen - are you based in a general hospital as working in the NHS for 15 years I've yet to come across one that didn't.

Alexa see above

NOT an NHS hospital

I work in a non-PFI NHS hospital....the canteen is shared with visitors/relatives. Actually, that's been the case for the hospital before that, and the one before that, and the one before that... Actually, thinking about it, all of them. Except the one that didn't have a canteen at all.

Maybe people think NHS workers have it easy because they believe the things in this thread such as getting paid breaks and having staff canteens - we don't.

Regarding breaks, the vast majority of the time we're not being told we can't have a break, but we are aware if we do, we're leaving the unit very short staffed, or are aware we'll have to stay even later (unpaid) to finish the paperwork we don't have time to do while actually caring for people.

And for those holier than thou, not one HCP in this thread has said they refuse to help. Everyone does help. We're allowed to then have a private grumble about being interrupted while eating on our unpaid break.

Maybe people think NHS workers have it easy because they believe the things in this thread such as getting paid breaks and having staff canteens - we don't.

I've posted I'm an NHS worker re staff canteens - in my experience in my trust all general hospitals have a canteen. Please don't claim to speak for all NHS workers as in doing so you are wrong.

I've also said we are allocated UNPAID lunch breaks whereby we should be able to take that allocated time off duty. I really can't get too angsty about someone asking directions when they see me with a name badge on - if it bothers anyone so much take your lanyard off/put a jacket on.

Ridiculous.

Please don't claim to speak for all NHS workers as in doing so you are wrong.

You mean like you did earlier in the thread when you accused people of "dramatising"?

Fwiw I don't work in a general hospital but have worked in 3 very large psychiatric hospitals with numerous wards and extensive outpatient departments... only my current has the already discussed limited canteen.
And the local very large general hospital no longer has a dedicated staff canteen either, its shared with the general public and again has very limited opening hours.

*You mean like you did earlier in the thread when you accused people of "dramatising"?

Fwiw I don't work in a general hospital but have worked in 3 very large psychiatric hospitals with numerous wards and extensive outpatient departments... only my current has the already discussed limited canteen.
And the local very large general hospital no longer has a dedicated staff canteen either, its shared with the general public and again has very limited opening hours.*

I said I thought SOME posters were dramatising - if you're going to quote me please be factual.

So you DO have a canteen - ours is shared with the general public too.

So you don't have a staff canteen?

We do have a staff canteen - that's shared with the public. Staff get a discount on all produce and are served before the public if busy.

Your 'raised eyebrow' is why?

Now you're acting dense on purpose. You know full well that when you say 'Staff canteen' people will assume you mean a canteen only for the staff. Important specifically in this thread, where OP is annoyed at being interrupted on her lunch break, in a shared canteen.

Unless you'd say Costa coffee is a staff room, because staff go there to sit, too?

Have worked in 9 hospitals, none of them have a staff canteen. Years ago one of them had a staff area, that one is now long gone. There is a huge pressure on space in hospitals due the the sustained drive for efficiency. Almost all protected staff areas in almost all hospitals have succumbed to this. Those that remain are hanging on by a thread.

PFI hospitals are not private companies paid to take over NHS services. PFI is way of raising capital to build/re-develop the real estate. Used for public services such as hospitals and schools. The PFI company maintains the bricks and mortar and, in some cases the ancillary services such as catering and cleaning. They absolutely do not have anything to do with providing clinical services.

I work as a uniformed HCP, when I'm at work I like to use the hospital shops/ canteen to buy lunch etc.

I rather think it's you that's being dense, in fact it's rather embarrassing how dense you are

Important specifically in this thread, where OP is annoyed at being interrupted on her lunch break, in a shared canteen.

I don't know - you tell me? I've never claimed such.

PFI hospitals are not private companies paid to take over NHS services. PFI is way of raising capital to build/re-develop the real estate. Used for public services such as hospitals and schools. The PFI company maintains the bricks and mortar and, in some cases the ancillary services such as catering and cleaning. They absolutely do not have anything to do with providing clinical services.

I don't believe I claimed they provided clinical services, but you are more than dense if you believe PFI isn't privatising the NHS behind closed doors.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_finance_initiative

You said this at 00:29:59
No they are not NHS hospitals - they are private companies paid to take over NHS services.

Do some googling.

*WhichHatNextPikachu Sat 14-Apr-18 03:37:34
You said this at 00:29:59
No they are not NHS hospitals - they are private companies paid to take over NHS services.

Do some googling.*

Thank you for the instruction to google but as I said, not clinical.

This private company has taken over portering annd domestic services, not clinical.

Do you understand now?

Nothing wrong with my understanding, nor am I more than dense thank you. (That could probably be construed as a personal attack.)

You said that they are private companies paid to take over NHS services. I was pointing out that that they do not run clinical services, which is what NHS services are.

Ancillary services across the NHS are provided in several different ways. Some NHS organisations run them in-house; some outsource to private providers; in some cases they are rolled in to PFI arrangements. It's not uncommon for one NHS trust to use different solutions for different ancillary services.

I think you are being a bit disingenuous. No they are not NHS hospitals - they are private companies paid to take over NHS services. There was a heavy implication in this statement that you were talking about clinical services.

I think you are being a bit disingenuous. No they are not NHS hospitals - they are private companies paid to take over NHS services. There was a heavy implication in this statement that you were talking about clinical services.

I disagree that there was any implication on my side re clinical. I specifically said portering and domestic services and they HAVE been taken over by a private company. I do think it's the start of a slippery slope whereby the NHS is privatised.

If you feel personally attacked please report my posts, I don't think I have 'attacked' you, just disagreed with some of what you've posted.

No they are not NHS hospitals - they are private companies paid to take over NHS services.
They are NHS hospitals. Via legislation. There are many issues with PFI, but it does not help to scaremonger about it in this way.

This is all a bit historic anyway. Everyone is now more than aware of the pitfalls of PFI and it has had it's day. It's not the start of a slippery slope: it all happened years ago and no-one is doing it now. Sadly we are left with the consequences for the trusts that went down that route, but they are NHS hospitals.

("More than dense" was referring to me, rather than disagreeing with what some of what I posted.)

Dressing gown. Will properly cover your uniform and everyone will think you’re a patient.

@whywhywhywhywhyyy
I work in the nhs and don’t find talking or helping the public an issue at all during my break many are confused or distressed I am actually quite flattered to be considered approachable

I work at a hospital but in the finance dept. Our office is over the road from the hospital. If I forget to take off my lanyard in the hospital sometimes patients ask me where things are and get a bit frustrated when I don't know. Of course they don't know that I know about where the canteen and consultants offices are, and that's it.

I can see why it's frustrating for people who just want to know where a vending machine is and they probably think I am lying.

Also we don't have a staff room. If you want to eat away from your desk it's either 10 min walk to public canteen or go and sit in your car.

Obviously the OP and all HCP need a break and an area suitable for this - this thread has been a real eye-opener for me - shocked that hospitals don't have staff-only spaces!

Astonishing really that the largest employer in this country (I think the NHS is) isn't implementing the facilities needed for basic wellbeing of its workforce while at work.

I have a work uniform, it is an office environment but I also visit people in their homes, I often pop into shops to grab a sandwich or a drink whilst out and about and if it is my actual lunch break have a browse if I have time and I get asked where things are several times a week. I just say “sorry I don’t work here” and they are usually very apologetic then