Key workers in Uniform in the Shops

[SpoonfulofDragon]

Ok, I could very well be being unreasonable here, however the hospitals where we have just moved from had a policy that staff were not allowed to leave hospital grounds in uniform so seeing people out in uniform is a little weird.

Friend went to key workers hour at the super market and was texting me photos of the fruit and veg aisle (we are doing a thing where they bring the food round and leave it on the doorstep, I cool a meal, they pick it up after their shift).

Anyways, the photo showed several NHS staff in uniform - I am guessing that some of them had ended their shift, rather than were starting their shift.

It's kind of perturbed me a bit to think that they are still allowed to do this when we know Covid-19 can live on clothes?

Surely hospitals should be implementing policies that mean uniforms can get washed at work, then again maybe all the changing / staff rooms are now bed spaces?

Generally grateful for all the NHS are doing, but this just seemed a bit scary to me.

Then just stand in front of the vegetable box and take a picture, dont take photos of the aisles.NHS staff have enough to worry about without fearing their photo will be shared and they are named and shamed for trying to get some food. They dont know that it's apparently just between the 2 of you. Isn't their life difficult enough as it is. If you want to photo them then use it to improve their lives, show how the shelves are empty and staff have to go in uniform as there are no washing facilities available for them.

@chuffoff That's what I thought all places were like. I know when I have been in previous places hospital the staff that I knew did smoke (and have smoked in our garden) would not smoke when taking me out in the wheelchair because they were in uniform.

@Greggers2017 I didn't take the photos (as you would know if you had read the thread), two it's perfectly OK to take photos of people in the UK in public spaces...

My issue is with the hospital trust (again you would see that if you had read the thread).

Again - if you had read the thread you will see why I am deciding whilst she is in our still poorly stocked supermarket.

@HappyHammy Hey, read the thread - you will see I have already answered those points (just like all your previous points).

I very much doubt anyone gave a shit about being in the background of photographs being taken by a Consultant that many of them will have known.

I'm on about your friend taking photos. For the most ridiculous reason I have ever heard of. There is absolutely no need whatsoever. Get a grip in life and focus on what is important right now. And find a different way to do your shopping.

Oh well maybe this same Consultant could have asked them to cover up their uniforms or bring it up with the infection control team if they were that bothered

@HappyHammy Consultant friend hasn't raised it - I realised it. I doubt she even looked at the photos other then to text them to me.

AND @Greggers2017 if you read the fucking thread you will see it is not my shopping.

Wish there was a way to block people on here... Will do a mental one for myself

With your friend. Tell her what you need before she goes, she can decide what she wants and buy it. Or you choose before she goes so it isn't done in this ridiculous fashion. Even students with SEND I've taught in the past, some non verbal were able to choose before they went. There just no need. I've never heard something so stupid in my life.

Does she take pictures of the meat, dairy and freezer sections too. Must take forever. A very selfish way to shop when most shops are now one out, one in.

@Greggers2017 Already explained why that doesn't work - OUR SUPERMARKET HAS NOT BEEN FULLY STOCKED FOR WEEKS, we cannot get many things. Again, if you read the thread, you would see that. Worried you are teaching SEND children with such a lack of basic comprehension.

We have a plan that works for us, we will continue using it.

If you're main concern is staff being out in uniform then maybe you're consultant friend should bring it up with the Board so they can help support everyone and issue a directive for the staff, that's all you need to do.

The trust I work for has always had a policy of staff changing into uniform at work, and into ordinary clothes afterwards, for infection control reasons, way before coronavirus. Contact the infection control team.

I can't help thinking that this is a very bad idea. When I did volunteer nursing many years ago and when my mum worked in A&E, it was drummed into us that we did NOT wear our uniforms outside the hospital. It's too easy to take germs and viruses out (and in) on a uniform. To allow it during a pandemic, when we're all supposed to be hyper-vigilant..?

I’m slightly perturbed that so many people think it’s ok to wander around a supermarket in clinical uniforms or scrubs. It never has been ok. I know there aren’t enough changing rooms (Dh often changes in the loo), but just wear your own clothes to go home in particularly if you are thinking of stopping off at the supermarket.

So the OP's post starts with:
"I could very well be unreasonable here"

Most people say YABU for various aspects of the post.

OP drip feeds with why she's not being unreasonable.

Why even ask AIBU if you're not prepared to hear that yes, you are being unreasonable or make any effort to understand why that is the case??

Additionally, maybe they are wearing clean uniforms during the NHS shopping times to make it clear they are genuinely supposed to be there?

I’m a carer, I wear blue like nurses and you’d think I was a nurse, but I’m not. A lot of people assume (wrongly) that because our uniform is blue, there’s more chance of us being a nurse.

I wear my own clothes to work, change to uniform there them change back before leaving work and have my uniform double bagged. Strip in the utility room when I’m home and everything into the machine and me straight into the shower. We’ve never been allowed to wear our uniform travelling to and from work.

It's not good practice to ear a uniform to the shops, it never has been, we were always told to change or cover up. Plus it puts staff in a difficult position if there is an incident when they are out as people will expect them to help. I dont know how the police and ambulance staff manage because they have to buy lunch from a shop and have very distinctive uniforms. The best thing would be for all staff to be issued with scrubs that the hospitals wash, plenty of showers and changing rooms made available but how the hospitals and community implement this would take a lot of work. Presumably the consultant friend in this thread changes their clothes before and after work and is in an ideal position to highlight any concerns. You cant share photos a staff in uniform taken by a member of staff unless they help resolve the issue,

Wear a uniform obviously

I’m a community midwife. I’m currently working from home and going on calls and holding clinics for well women. I was working 5 days per week. I’m currently working 7 days a week. We are provided with three uniforms. My uniforms are boil wash and air dry. I have no changing facilities other than my own home. Sometimes I have nowhere to go for a wee, often other than a supermarket.

I work wholly in the community. I use the protective equipment I need over my uniform to protect my patients as well as myself. If my uniform is in any way compromised I have to change it, put it in a bag and put the bag in the washing machine with the uniform inside. On occasion, all I have to change into are scrubs.

I’m determined to keep myself, my family, my patients and the public safe. If I’m wearing a uniform in a shop, you can be sure that I’m not compromising my own health by wearing a uniform that’s contaminated, so I’m not compromising yours.

Please be kind to us.

Our laundry was closed . Used linen is transported 100 miles away and washed, then returned. There is no facility to wash uniforms. If they went to the laundry, we would never get them back as it’s all distributed centrally

Obviously can't comment on the particular staff or photo someone oddly took but are you aware some nursing or other clinical staff in control rooms, office jobs and 111 call centres wear uniform but don't have any patient contact at all?

We have a plan that works for us! Well 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼OP glad most people aren't as selfish and judgemental as you are during these current times

Can't actually believe what I'm reading. These people are trying to buy a bit of food in between saving lives and you're sat at home looking at pictures of vegetables, assuming you know more about their personal hygiene than they do.

Additionally i would assume your consultant friend that weirdly engages in this ridiculous food shop saga would raise it themselves if they had any concerns. I don't buy the 'they didn't see them because they were looking at vegetables' line because based on your own post, they were there in such huge numbers (some in scrubs, some in uniforms, and this just in the veg aisle) they'd surely be unmissable especially to someone with the attention to detail of a consultant.

And please tell your mate to stand further away from people. No way is it possible to clearly capture a photo of a full vegetable aisle and multiple shoppers without standing much closer than the 2m rule.

And please tell your mate to stand further away from people. No way is it possible to clearly capture a photo of a full vegetable aisle and multiple shoppers without standing much closer than the 2m rule.

@lucieinthesky FEAR NOT, she was well away from them - they were over the other side and up the aisles. But yeah, go jump to your own conclusions and your on judgement on NHS staff.

@Klouise777 I am - but fair point to raise it, thank you!

Anyway from the votes, many people agree with me. I know our infectious team at the hospital are hugely busy but I may take the advice given to write to someone else (although suspect they are busy rearranging rotas and staffing levels).