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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wondering who the clinical people are who go to supermarkets in uniform

50 replies

Singinginshower · 23/03/2020 20:32

I see there are lots of pictures relating to the NHS shopping hour, showing people in uniform.
I don't understand how anyone who works in health and social care thinks this is OK.
I even wondered if people were 'borrowing' uniforms to get their shopping done.

OP posts:
spicedemerald · 23/03/2020 20:41

They’ve gone straight from their shift!

emmy4 · 23/03/2020 20:42

Community nurse/ hca

spirdygirdy · 23/03/2020 20:43

No idea. We have to change out of uniform before we leave in these current times!

SidsWife · 23/03/2020 20:44

Some of us work in the community as well as the hospitals

Mrsmorton · 23/03/2020 20:44

YANBU. Ex dentist and I think it's grim as fuck. At least change your top. It's minging and very poor cross infection measures. It takes 1min to change a shirt.

BillywigSting · 23/03/2020 20:44

Yes shopping straight after shift. The ones shopping at 8am are doing so after a night shift.

I'm a hca and I wouldn't though. I keep a change of clothes I'm my work bag and change before I leave

MowzersAsleep · 23/03/2020 20:45

They ahould get changed, even if they half change by putting a hoodie oner the tunic, its not so glaringly obvious.

Lanyards should not be on show in a shop because they are not suppoosed to be worn when driving due to a previous incident.

Original poster
Singinginshower · 23/03/2020 20:56

But even people working in the community have a coat to put over their uniform surely

OP posts:
trixiebelden77 · 23/03/2020 21:14

Most of us who wear scrubs to work change into clean scrubs go to go home. I assume these people are doing the same. A moment’s thought and this might have occurred to those rushing in to judge.

What’s ‘grim as fuck’ is frontline staff unable to get basic supplies.

Ilovelala · 23/03/2020 21:16

Going to buy essentials before work ?

Tescodelivery · 23/03/2020 21:18

But even people working in the community have a coat to put over their uniform surely

Why do they need to put a coat on if they are on their way home?

Their uniform will go in the was when they get back. They have more than one you know!

Mrsmorton · 23/03/2020 21:46

people should not wear clinical clothing outside of work. It's very poor cross infection process. It doesn't matter what basic equipment they have or haven't.

whiplashy · 23/03/2020 22:05

Most of us who wear scrubs to work change into clean scrubs go to go home

Eh?! Why not just put on your own t shirt and joggers?!

ineedsun · 23/03/2020 22:08

Yeah I don't get this either. Massive infection control issue.

Coffeeandnutrients · 23/03/2020 22:16

YANBU I have a lot of family work in local trusts and their policies all state absolutely no uniform wearing outside the hospital, even running to the car is frowned upon.
Community workers obviously wear theirs outside but going shopping in uniform? Still a no.

SidsWife · 23/03/2020 22:18

How do you know that the carers in the uniform aren’t shopping for a patient?

TheGoogleMum · 23/03/2020 22:18

When I had to wear a uniform at work every day we were told never to wear it outside work even to shops. People are probably violating their trust policies unless community workers

GrumpyHoonMain · 23/03/2020 22:24

Most of these will be community / GP Practice workers. Hospital workers don’t do this - you won’t even see midwives in their uniforms when they leave their shifts.

Janaih · 23/03/2020 22:28

I wondered this! Have seen pics of paramedics in uniform.

Work uniforms should stay at work to be washed.

JaneTheVirgin · 23/03/2020 22:30

Yep. This is exactly the kind of thing NHS staff want to hear now. FFS I give up.

JaneTheVirgin · 23/03/2020 22:34

Work uniforms should stay at work to be washed

And who the fuck is washing my uniform if I keep it at work?!

I've just got off of a 15 hour shift in A&E. 15 hours. I am exhausted and stressed and had a patient die and several more I wish I could have helped more. I drank 1 glass of water 1 cup of coffee and had no lunch break. Used the bathroom once.

And the first damn thing I see when I get home to rest is people judging NHS staff when they don't have a clue what the situation is! Several NHS staff are ALLOWED to wear uniform in public. Some it is even required. If they have been around infectious matter or patients they have a brain they will have changed!

But nope. Let's keep kicking them while they're down instead. That'll help.

Sheepareawesome · 23/03/2020 22:35

I am an AHP and work in the community and wear a uniform. If I haven't been to patients and need to pop into the shop I just cover my top, as per our policy. I might also go to the shop at the start of the shift if I ever got up in time. All clean uniform each day. No different to going in my clean normal clothes. I wouldn't go in if I had been to a patient's home.

ThisMustBeMyDream · 23/03/2020 22:44

Community midwife - if I need the loo, or a drink/lunch, I would usually go to a supermarket. We have an unpaid 30 minute lunch, and nowhere to change (or time!). I wear a coat over at the moment. But the coat is NHS so you can tell I'm a HCP really.

Doggybiccys · 23/03/2020 23:02

@Janaih......I wondered this! Have seen pics of paramedics in uniform.
Work uniforms should stay at work to be washed.

Seen paramedics in uniform GrinGrinGrin

  • well yeah, they work in the community so it’s kinda necessary. Do you expect them to drive to a changing room, put on their own clothes, drive out to pick up lunch , go back and get changed again? Some people really have no idea. Same with community nurses and many social care staff.