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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Ambulances at Car Wash

30 replies

ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 17:19

I took my car to a hand car wash today, as I'm disabled and can't do it myself. I sat in the sun as some lovely fellas washed, polished and hoovered my car til it shone.

While I was waiting for the hoovering, four ambulances came through the car wash bit and were hand-washed.

AIBU in wondering why they'd have to come to a hand car wash and pay to get their vehicles washed? DH thinks they have to look after their own ambulances, meaning they'd have to pay out of their own pockets (a tenner a vehicle). Are there no washing facilities at ambulance stations? Is this something else that isn't funded when it should be?

Hopefully I can stop quietly fuming if someone tells me the government picks up the bill.

OP posts:
TyrionsNextWife · 05/08/2018 17:23

I’ve never heard of ambulances getting cleaned in those places, but maybe the valets do it for free since they’re emergency vehicles?

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 05/08/2018 17:25

Maybe the Health Trust have an agreement with them if they don't have the facilities at their base.

Fieau · 05/08/2018 17:25

my OH is a firefighter and they have to clean the pump inbetween call outs, but they do it back at the station. Maybe there aren't facilities for this at the hospital, or they are too far away?

VladmirsPoutine · 05/08/2018 17:26

I've no idea but why did you feel the need to mention that your disability curtails you from washing your car? Do you think car-wash users are profligate?

Original poster
ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 17:27

They definitely paid. The hospital is two minutes away.

OP posts:
28holid · 05/08/2018 17:27

OMG what the actual?

That will be the car wash the health board have an account set up with Hmm

Also, I use hand car washes and I'm not disabled. Just lazy.

28holid · 05/08/2018 17:28

If they paid cash it will be on a deal. Taxis get cheap car washes too.

There is no need for them to have wash facilities at the hospital when they can outsource it

Original poster
ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 17:28

Vladmirs - ODFOD.

I mentioned it because I posted once before about paying someone to do a physical task for me, without mentioning my disability, and was flamed for being lazy. Fucking can't win.

OP posts:
28holid · 05/08/2018 17:29

I mentioned it because I posted once before about paying someone to do a physical task for me, without mentioning my disability, and was flamed for being lazy. Fucking can't win.

What exactly are you trying to win?

It's a hand car wash. Designed for anyone to use Confused

Darkstar4855 · 05/08/2018 17:31

A small ambulance station might not have washing facilities. It will be paid for by the ambulance service though - not the crew! They are probably given petty cash to pay for it.

Original poster
ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 17:32

Absolutely hilarious.

I thought very carefully about my wording before posting, so as not to rile the same people that got het up before about paying someone to do a job.

As I've stated, I mentioned my disabilities for that reason, and that reason only.

I am very aware that anyone can use a hand car wash and find it utterly bizarre that anyone would think otherwise. However this is Mumsnet, and I've already explained why I mentioned the fact that I'm disabled.

This place is unreal Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 17:33

Thanks for those who have answered. It could well have been petty cash then. I'm glad they don't have to fund it themselves Smile

OP posts:
anotherangel2 · 05/08/2018 17:34

I imagine outsourcing it to the car wash means it is done pretty quickly so the vehicles can be back in service quickly. I can’t imagine paramedics have much spare time to wash their ambulances as they will be busy with patients.

NewYearNewMe18 · 05/08/2018 17:36

Let me thing about this - do I want ambulance staff on call, turning up to possibly stick a needle in me covered in soap suds, grime and t-cut because they haven't had time to shower, change their uniform and sterilise before a call out ?

I have to say, I don't think it really matters for fire fighters - no disrespect - they are going to get we, grimy and sodden anyway.

flumpybear · 05/08/2018 17:37

We used to
Live next door to an ambulance station and they had washing facilities around the back - perhaps it's broken at that place?

Iamtheresurrection · 05/08/2018 17:38

Interesting. Police are responsible for cleaning cars/vans here. They’d need to pay themselves for a car wash.

Original poster
ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 17:40

It could well be broken - I've not seen them there before and I pass very often.

Yes it's very quick there, perhaps they were on duty then.

OP posts:
VladmirsPoutine · 05/08/2018 17:44

Thanks for telling me to fuck off. You clearly feel very defensive over it. It would never occur to me that car-washes are a moral web for able-bodied people or disabled people. There are people on the Style and Beauty boards that pay for someone to stalk around department stores and choose clothes for them that they'll then have to pay for - stumps me every-time but it's not my business and it's not my money. Live and let live is my motto.

Original poster
ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 17:58

Quite alright.

Clearly I am defensive, as I've already explained (twice) I was flamed on here before, so tried to avoid it.

It was nothing to do with the fact that it was a car wash specifically, as I'm sure you well know, from what I have already posted.

Live and let live is my motto

Really? Why are you pulling me up on mentioning my disabilities then?

OP posts:
VladmirsPoutine · 05/08/2018 18:05

I'm not "pulling" you up on anything. I'm not the thread police; the reference to 'profligate' was rather tongue-in-cheek as a car-wash is obviously not going to break the bank but talking about your disability in the context of the thread struck me as a bit of a non-sequitor as it's really neither here nor there iyswim. I don't know what other threads people have flamed you on but if it was AIBU you'd probably be flamed for saying you saved a group of school children from harm by interfering or some such.

Cyw2018 · 05/08/2018 18:06

Because we often go out on jobs before we have been able to properly check and re stock our ambulances, get our (unpaid) break timed to the second (and often 7+hours into the shift), don't get our 2nd paid break at all, and finish our 12 hour shift up to 4 hours late.

We don't have time to clean our vehicles ourselves any more. Presumably the ambulance trust has a contract with the car wash place.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 05/08/2018 18:14

@VladimirsPoutine - I can appreciate why the OP mentioned her disability in her first post, if she has previously been flamed and called lazy for mentioning she paid for some other task to be done, without mentioning her disability. And now you are leaping on her for having mentioned it.

She truly is damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t, isn’t she!

HopefullyAnonymous · 05/08/2018 18:16

Can’t speak for ambulances, but Sunday morning is police car cleaning time. We take it to a garage that accepts our fuel card eg Morrison’s and jet wash there using the fuel card to pay.

prettygreywalls · 05/08/2018 18:18

Maybe not quite the same but my local car wash seems to wash more taxis than regular cars

Original poster
ProfessorMoody · 05/08/2018 18:49

Sorry to hear that Cyw Sad I really don't envy you the way things must be at the moment. Thank you for doing wonderful jobs Flowers

Thanks SDTG, that's how I feel! I'd rather be lazy than disabled so I'll stick with not mentioning it next time Grin

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