Why is my NHS employed SIL 'working from home'?

[emptyfridge]

Really confused as to why the government are taking on thousands of volunteers to support the NHS and we are constantly being told of the immense pressure staff are under when my perfectly capable SIL is working from home apparently catching up on paperwork?

[ilovesooty]

@GoofyLuce you can of course report any posts that you feel break the talk guidelines.

[Fluffymulletstyle]

I work frontline nhs very closely with Ots. Some areas are run off their feet trying discharge people from hospital Other areas have cancelled their appointments.

We would never have been able to justify wfh before the last few weeks. Now we are doing it to stop multiple people cramming into a tiny office and spreading germs. We are rotaed different days throughout the week. We are finding new innovative ways of working and supporting our patients.

There will be a huge need for OT for the mostly elderly and vulnerable people who have spent 3 weeks on a ventilator fighting coronavirus to get them back home.

[IncyWincy23]

@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend I apologise for coming across as insensitive, I didn’t mean to at all.

[GoofyLuce]

@ilovesooty it's not about breaking vague talk guidelines. Its the fact that such a massive group of adults keep going and going, on and on and on at somewho who has accepted that they were wrong and has apologised to who she's offended. It is just like playground bullying and you all should be fucking ashamed of yourselves. She apologised but no one is satisfied with that and feel the need to go on and on. Imagine how the OP is feeling now. Bunch of vicious cows.

[QuakingQuiche]

@LemonSquash94 I'm aware of how intrinsically linked various hospital departments are (just like all the organs within a body) but my point was that there are non-NHS jobs which have also required people to work above and beyond during this time - the reason for the special privileges given to the NHS staff at the moment is due to them risking their lives to directly save others' lives. The extra workload etc., whilst very real is not exclusive to NHS. What about supply chains for supermarkets keeping the nation fed? There's been a huge extra demand on this service, with people panic buying, restaurants closed, etc. What about non-NHS laboratories working on coronavirus prevention and cures? Yet I don't see them getting supermarket special hours etc. I totally agree with those risking their lives to get the privileges but if every NHS worker is given it purely due to increased workload (but they're working from home), where do we draw the line? Are they risking more and/or more overworked than the lorry drivers who have to work much longer now to keep up with demand for supplies? Non-NHS scientists working all hours to discover and test vaccines for it?

[LolaSmiles]

Alsohuman
That would have been awkward.

We really need an emoji for joking sarcasm, but I'm not sure what that would look like.

[Quartz2208]

Oh OP I think you need to think about what your SIL is responsible for which as PPs have said would be making sure that a lot of patients have the ability to be at home at the moment and not at hospital - a vital part of making sure that the system works even if she isnt on the frontline. And one which yes she would be allowed to have a school place for

The volunteers will be deployed to areas as and when needed but OT is a skilled profession

[Mlou32]

Well my friend is a mental health nurse who is working from home, doing paperwoek, risk assessments, care plans, audits etc to free up the nurses on the wards time to deliver face to face patient care. What she's doing isn't any less valuable than others...

[PoopyPanda]

I totally agree with those risking their lives to get the privileges but if every NHS worker is given it purely due to increased workload (but they're working from home), where do we draw the line?

We draw the line at “works for the NHS”. Otherwise either the ‘special slots’ would be overwhelmed with people, or supermarkets would have low-level employees at the door asking everyone with an NHS badge “well what exactly do you do then?” to decide whether they were worthy of coming in or not. It’s not a perfect system but had to be implemented very quickly with little guidance.

My husband works in healthcare supply chain. It’s vital. He works for a company that supplies and services diagnostic testing kits and machines to hospitals. He waited for an hour to get into a supermarket for some groceries last night, but I don’t begrudge NHS staff getting first dibs.

[canigooutyet]

Omg she's an occupational therapist. I'm not surprised she has paperwork to do!! There's also a big chance that she is currently on her 'clean weeks'.

Do you even know what is involved in a 'normal' working day? You should really have a look into it. You might be more understanding of her 'perks'.

[ragged]

I find it a revelation how many threads on MN are basically about resenting other people. I'm slow, I know.

[Timetospare]

OP have you ever taken the time to listen to or understand what your SIL does?
Alongside others she’s in the frontline of getting people home safely with equipment dispensed and care put in place.
Yes, she may well be ‘catching up on paperwork’ but that is just code for working her socks off and justifying every request she puts in for the client’s support.

[Timetospare]

I’m ever so glad you are not my SIL

[CatkinToadflax]

OP, well done for agreeing that perhaps you're in the wrong.

Just to add that my 14 year old has complex disabilities and attends a special school. He's currently at home. He is receiving his (non NHS) OT, speech therapy and counselling via video call with his therapists. They certainly couldn't do their jobs with the pupils with their own small children bombing around in the background. There is also a vast amount of paperwork involved because every pupil has a case file and extensive progress notes. I don't suppose things would be enormously different in adult OT.

Hope it gets easier for you at home OP. It's pretty tough for everyone at the moment unfortunately.

[Incrediblytired]

So essentially you’re jealous?

[EL8888]

^ yep feels like that to me. OP sounds bitchy and jealous. I’m sure she would love to be in shoes right now but once you know what she does, then l doubt you will feel the same