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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

105 replies

hibbledobble · 07/04/2020 18:37

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.

OP posts:
Ezzabean · 07/04/2020 19:17

I would just like the appreciation to continue when this is all over. It makes me sad that it’s taken an emergency like the corona virus to make people value the NHS for what it is.
The economy will be in a state when this is all over & you can bet it’s NHS staff whose wages are gonna suffer then, just like they have been for years running.

Nicknacky · 07/04/2020 19:17

One of our local restaurants delivered meals to the hospital. Took a lovely photo of them all stood shoulder to shoulder with the nursing staff 🤦🏻‍♀️

BringMeSunshineInMyLife · 07/04/2020 19:22

Please look for an unglamorous charity to give to:

In our town they feed about 25 semi homeless/elderly/drug/alcohol users 3 meals a day every day of the year. They get the food from shops and restaurants at the ned of each day. They also give out food bags daily. Their clients live on HMO/bedsits or are now in the local hostel.

They suddenly have no food as all but 1 shop and restaurant has closed and the numbers coming have shot up. Last week that had almost nothing to put in the bags.

Please think about organisations like this one.

Nannewnannew · 07/04/2020 19:37

The department where I used to work ,Urgent Treatment Centre, and other wards in the same hospital are being inundated with gifts of food, toiletries and flowers. Some of the food was donated by fast food restaurants. My ex colleagues have told me that although they appreciate the thought they really do not need these gifts and in fact their department has never been so quiet so all feel a bit of a fraud.

UnaCorda · 07/04/2020 19:37

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.

I bet he is. Hmm Yes, it's a nice gesture, but why can't people just do things without looking for plaudits on social media?

Nohero · 07/04/2020 19:57

I work in the NHS, too far away from home to be able to come back between shifts. I am really struggling now to find food on and between shifts as everything is closed and the canteen has short hours and serves families as well as staff. There’s only so many Tupperwares I can take while working a week of nights. If a company came and delivered food we paid for even that would be a start.

The student HCPs in my trust are struggling with money as the jobs they normally do while studying no longer exist so they have been provided with free meals, which they appreciate more than the random donuts and cookies that get donated.

NewYearNewTwatName · 07/04/2020 20:00

If people are able, there is a big thing about scrubs. Lots of people are busy sowing Scrubs at the moment. there are lots of FB groups with PDF of patterns.

I'm can't sow for toffee but my friend has managed to do her first 4 sets, and from what she's said the demand for them is huge.

Supersimkin2 · 07/04/2020 20:01

Thank God an NHS worker said what we're all thinking.

Original poster
hibbledobble · 07/04/2020 20:04

Scrubs aren't a bad idea, as hospitals don't have enough and we are all expected to wear them now. Happy to pay for them though.

OP posts:
PussyWillowPeach · 07/04/2020 20:04

I think donations/gifts are absolutely essential. My Dad works for the NHS, lots of 12 hour shifts and overtime. He’s exhausted working 8-8, he doesn’t drive so cycles to work every day. The donations eg bread, biscuits, soups etc mean he doesn’t have to trawl to the supermarket after a long shift as he wasn’t one of those who stockpiled. He also lives alone so no one to buy his shopping for him. I’m so grateful to all the organisations providing regular donations so it means our NHS staff get a break at the end of the day without worrying about having to pop to the shop (where it’s probably empty anyways!).

Susiesue61 · 07/04/2020 20:11

I've said it before but please don't forget Hospices! We are not fully government funded and are losing income.
I agree with the OP, we don't need 'things', we need money! Although we love cake too 😊 And yes scrubs would be excellent

CakeAndGin · 07/04/2020 20:11

I think donations are just people showing they are caring about you but I realise that it doesn’t take away the frustrations of your job. On the reverse, I work in a key industry (I’m back end so working from home, unless the shit really hits the fan), but our staff have received abuse for why they are still out when they should be working from home, engineers fixing utility networks so can’t really be done from home. It’s a nice gesture, if the staff can’t use everything, ask the food bank to pick it up.

Toddlerteaplease · 07/04/2020 20:12

No we don't need them. But I enjoyed them non the less!

PigInASlanket · 07/04/2020 20:13

If we're putting out wishes... I'd just like the goodwill to extend to all areas and for it to continue when the peak is long behind us. The public are fully behind the current acute crisis, but the long term implications for chronic/minor/outpatient/mental health care will be long standing and I strongly suspect the support will dry up quite quickly.

SuperlativeScrubs · 07/04/2020 20:13

So we don't need free food, free rides to work, meals cooked for us and anything that could help outide of our desperate need for PPE etc...

But clapping is definitely something that must be done every Thursday.

Also, speak for yourself. Many of your lower banded colleagues don't have the recognition, pay or benefits you get as a Doctor.

Holymolymackerel · 07/04/2020 20:18

Me and my children delivered a box of 48 creme eggs for the intensive care unit at our local hospital earlier. I feel sad now that it won't be received in the way it was intended.

I don't have anything of use or skills but we wanted to do something.

VioletCharlotte · 07/04/2020 20:19

The frontline staff at my trust are loving the freebies. They received a delivery of Easter Eggs today from one of the supermarkets and have also had cans of coffee from Costa, pizzas, goodies from Lush, etc.

As a Dr on a decent salary, this may not be so appealing to you, but the nurses and HCAs are really grateful and it helps brighten their day a little.

NewYearNewTwatName · 07/04/2020 20:22

hibbledobble There is massive movement on FB now 100s of sewers making them now. My friend joined and the requests from hospitals and GB surgeries is staggering.

I was contemplating starting a thread to see if any MNers wanted to help. But I feel I don't know what to say as I'm not doing it.

this is the fb group she's on

www.facebook.com/groups/1500699350098765/

SuperlativeScrubs · 07/04/2020 20:23

And yes, food and free gifts for us means we don't get growled at when we rightly skip the queue during the NHS hour at the supermarket. It allows lower paid staff, particularly those working down at band 2 who work their asses off just to cover their bills, to eat during their working hours at a bare minimum.

I don't think, even being an NHS doctor, you understand how much of a battle it is for lower banded NHS staff to live day to day.

VioletCharlotte · 07/04/2020 20:23

If anyone can sew, them scrubs are in high demand. There's a Facebook group called The Love of Scrubs, they're very good at finding out what's needed, providing patterns, etc

Original poster
hibbledobble · 07/04/2020 20:39

Ha, I wish I had great pay, recognition and benefits as an NHS doctor! I think most people think we earn a lot more than we do. I am earning less that 30k this year, but the point is that I still have a job, when many don't.

Getting groceries is tough, absolutely. I don't want to go to the supermarket, to protect the public, and am also working long hours, so it's difficult to get there. If frontline NHS staff couldn't have priority access to home deliveries, that would be helpful. I can't get a delivery at all.

OP posts:
NewYearNewTwatName · 07/04/2020 20:44

I've start a thread in chat about the sewing scrubs.

Medstudent12 · 07/04/2020 20:48

I am a hospice doctor and do agree. Although I had a free dinner tonight and it was greatly appreciated!

Please please consider donating to your local hospice. We can’t fundraise due to lockdown and social distancing but for most hospices 2/3 or their budget we have to raise as a charity to provide medical care, 1/3 comes from NHS! We are still caring for patients with cancer and many other life limiting non covid conditions, we offer what I believe is truly exceptional care and try to make the worst time for families just a little more bearable (IMO we do this better than hospitals can). So if you want to help donate to Your local hospice, we are charities too.

I am also a junior doctor, our conditions are often appalling in hospitals, I hope some of the underfunding of the nhs is addressed after this. Covid 19 has highlighted just how much we need it.

This pandemic has made me proud to work for the NHS and confirmed that I love this job, the way everyone has pulled together is incredible and heartwarming.

P.S. the claps made me cry, it was lovely to be appreciated

Bluetrews25 · 07/04/2020 20:48

I got a care package today, and was very thankful.
It was a kind thing to give and it was happily received.
I know we need the right PPE etc etc, but it's not an either/or situation, these people cannot magic it up.
This was people / companies who are appreciative of what we ALL do and wanted to say so in the only practical way they could.
So I say thank you to them.
And can I please assure PP that those Creme Eggs will have been very, very well received!

Medstudent12 · 07/04/2020 20:49

Also as a doctor I get a good wage. Plenty of my colleagues are horrendously underpaid and it is very unfair.