To say that as NHS staff we don't need freebies or gifts

[hibbledobble]

As an NHS doctor, my job is secure. I am working more at this time, and will be renumerated for that. Many people aren't so fortunate and have lost their jobs now or have reduced incomes.

I appreciate the thought, but gifts aren't needed. Emotionally and physically the job is harder now, so kindness is appreciated: if you know any working on the frontline in the NHS now, do check on how they are, offer to chat etc.

I feel like gifts would be better going to food banks, or other worthwhile causes.

Ten years of not having pay cut/constraints/real-terms pay cuts for Drs and nurses and under-funding of the service would have been a start.

Changes to terms and conditions and pay bullied and imposed on 'junior' doctors (deliberately incorrect term to imply recently left med school rather than sub-consultant-level) backed up by the government's friendly press didn't help.

Don't want freebies though understand the public want to help.

Don't want clapping though some welcome it.

And as I sit on a high horse, PPE that is available, adequate and not expired with comedy stickers would be a help/saved HCPs lives rather than PR spin of 'raising the standards of PPE to the world's best'.

Having sorted out testing months ago like Germany, South Korea would have saved HCPs lives too.

My DP is a paramedic and the ambulance station is full of donations, its really nice and really generous of people but they don't know what to do with them. He has taken his share to donate to the food bank

I think people are giving gifts (sending food etc) because they can't do what you really need and give PPE and more staff and less risk, so they're doing what they can to show some gratitude and support. Also, people recognise that medical staff are working long, stressful shifts and that maybe some biscuits/pizza/cake will help you keep going and manage the day a little more easily.

I read a post recently by a nurse who works day shift and can get to shops easily who said the same as you, but she was contradicted by a nurse who works shift where she can't get to shops when there is anything on the shelf, and she said healthcare workers on those shifts really appreciate the donations. Perhaps those doing the donating just need to target them more appropriately.

Zillow, absolutely lots of other issues, but gifts won't fix these. They are for the government to fix.

Care packages (eg food while on shift) are perhaps a bit different to gifts. I'm not sure actually.

I wonder how many healthcare assistants, porters, cleaners etc would agree with you and how many have themselves had to access food banks in the past and during the pandemic?

A guy near us is posting a sort of daily diary/taking donations for how he is spending hours making tupperware containers with chili, cottage pie, chicken curry type foods in and delivering them to his local hospital for the staff. It’s so lovely and kind but it makes me think - he has to go out and bulk buy the ingredients, drive to the hospital, enter the hospital to hand over, not to mention the lack of facilities to refrigerate or freeze 40+ meals and then reheat then safely, wash and return the containers. How helpful actually is this ? I feel like the worst person ever for even thinking it but my mum and uncle and auntie are fairly frontline and they would probably a) not have time to sit and enjoy the food and b) be a bit worried about correct cooking, freezing and reheating protocol etc so as not to get a tummy bug at this crucial time.

People are sooo keen to help which is so nice but I honestly think at the end of this, a financial bonus or paid time off or something would appreciated instead of streams of food and cakes and sweets etc.

Our ambulance station is full of gifts which is lovely and we’re very grateful but we don’t need it. None of us are going to starve, we aren’t going to loose our jobs and we’re getting paid. We’ve been dropping stuff off to our local food bank but the home cooked meals, cakes and biscuits we are getting aren’t suitable for that so we’re eating them. Most of us would rather people kept the food for themselves or left the ingredients in the shops for others to buy.

Hibble, yes, just my rant. Have been furious with the government misleading about PPE for many weeks.

I agree about donations though I'm conscious I don't struggle with family shopping given my location and family circumstances though I've seen colleagues struggle with getting food/the basics after their shifts. The picture is a bit mixed, as Muddling alludes to. I can see the public want to do something.

What might be better if people donated a cash amount or something to the Hospital Volunteers - the money can be used to purchase vital equipment etc.

Unless the gifts are PPE.

Agree, I think the thought is nice but ultimately misplaced. Money would be better and safer.

I think for some shops it's a marketing ploy (with good intentions still, not criticising) to offload stock that would otherwise be wasted, some good cheap PR while hopefully recouping some costs if they make some money from the product, if not then good marketing they hope people will remember. I don't think it's wholly about showing gratitude to NHS, there's some business acumen behind it.

lilimoon this is why food banks should be well stocked, for everyone that needs them.

I don’t want to be clapped and I don’t want free things. I want to be able to go to the supermarket and buy what I need. The companies flooding my trust with freebies make me feel uncomfortable. It’s all unnecessary journeys. We’ve had a Tesco home delivery van a few times in work but surely that’s slots being taken from the vulnerable?

Meh I’m grumpy. But it makes me uncomfortable.

I'm crocheting teddy bears for NHS staff, for their children to hug while they are gone

Have asked before giving them though

I was looking forward to my free dominos pizza on Friday

I think it’s this week we don’t get any donations at work.

I am absolutely broke at the moment so a free pizza would be nice (even if ds eats most of it)

Of course want I really want is suitable PPE but when face shields were delivered today I did think wtf are we expected to do. I am not trained in medical care at all (mh professional) how ill shall our residents have to be before admitted to hospital

Sorry gone off on an tangent

I was clasped coming out of Sainsbury’s last week

I felt a fraud I’m not on the front line saving or trying to save lives

• clapped

Here the hospital has stated that they would prefer donations to the hospital charity as they are inundated with 'stuff' that won't get used (as grateful as they are), and that way it can be spent where it's needed. The restaurant is also selling essential food supplies at the same price you would get in a supermarket (it might be in collab with one, not sure) so that staff can shop without leaving site and be guaranteed some loo rolls. This seems to be pretty effective, probably more so than 5% off something. Although quite a few local businesses have offered things like half price tyres etc for when they reopen, and free haircuts and beauty treatment vouchers which seems like a positive thing not encouraging extra journeys. Care homes are desperate for hand creams etc, and seem to be often forgotten.

We're been asked for specific things for the nurses at Wexham (from a nurse at Wexham). This week it's nappies and wipes and then for the nurses that are staying in hotels, healthy snacks and drinks that don't need refrigerating and personal care products.

Another group in the village are asking for actual meals for our local paramedic station that they can heat up in their microwave (we have a few very good cooks in the village), as many of their partners are also key workers and it just takes the strain off if they can eat before they go home.

I wasn’t aware that this was happening (probably as I’m not in a hospital I work in a mh unit)

It’s very touching I feel quite emotional.

I agree, NHS staff are doing a great job but it is their job and unlike 1000s they still have a job and income.
What about carers on minimum wage going round the houses to multiple clients per day, are they getting inundated with goodies?
It is a misguided attempt at being kind but too much of it is for attention.

Great for medics, but what about the nurses in the news a few months ago about having to use food banks?

YABU thinking that "NHS" means highly paid individuals. The band 2's and 3's on my ward bloody deserve some free stuff.