To think the glamorisation of the NHS isn't helpful

[YeahWhatevver]

My DH is a nurse and I'm getting really fed up with the glamorization of the NHS and Doctors and Nurses.

He's watching the TV, seeing the clapping, the endless stories of NHS saving the nation, the grit and determination of the staff, doubling down to fight off this virus and said last night how he wishes it was like that and him and his friends felt like that.

The truth couldn't be further, my DH and his colleagues are exhausted, under equipped, scared, and in their hearts of hearts don't want to be in a hospital. Who in their right mind would want to go into a virus infected ITU for hours per day and then come back to you wife and kids?

The public need to know how scared and overwhelmed these people are, not how Stacy, 21 from Newcastle has ended her nurse training early to go and join the fight and is one of the thousands of "heroes" grateful to be able to play their part.

I've already seen a marked change in DH's mood, he dreads going to a job that he used to love, I've got no idea what him and his colleagues will be like in another 8 weeks.

There's a hospital in Northamptonshire that tweeted a photo of a simple banner saying 'Thank You' that somebody had quietly (and without fanfare) put in a strategic place so that every doctor, nurse, ambulance crew would drive past it and see it.

That I really liked a lot. Every hospital should have one. The originator of the idea was unknown, didn't post it on social media at all - the hospital staff did. That's how it's done when it's really meant.

Totally agree. Saying nhs staff are heroes/angels is just a feel good story. It is undervaluing what they do really - as if they are all so committed to nursing that they are more than happy to sacrifice themselves for our country. And they just want a "thanks" for it or perhaps some type of plaque like at a war memorial.

Well guess what, I'm not brave and have no interest in sacrificing myself! Nursing is my job but it's not my whole life.

But it's making people feel better so I suppose it's helping in a way. Other threads on here where hcps have spoken about thinking of quitting have really panicked other posters. Obviously it helps to think health staff are brave soldiers/robots.

I think after this a lot of hospital workers will say screw this for this amount of money they get and the stress and look for other work.

I don't think it's patronising in any way. I don't think there is any adult, able to access news and social media who doesn't know how terrified, stressed, overworked and huge lack of resources the NHS staff have to overcome.
I've worked for the NHS as frontline staff, I have family and friends who are nurses and have a close family member admitted and in ITU with covid-19.

We're clapping to show our thanks and appreciation, we aren't the government, we can't make PPE, we can show community spirit and solidarity and huge recognition of our understanding of what our NHS have to face each shift.

I'm not glamorising, I am under no illusion as keyworkers, they are essential and have no other choice to work Most of us, do know this.

I worked in the NHS, my neighbour and several people I know are still working there.

My neighbour week one went out and had a go at everyone clapping and banging pans asking what the fuck they were doing and to get back fucking inside. When someone turned on him to say he should be more appreciative of the NHS heroes he had a go at them for being stupid and breaking lockdown.

He was right people were breaking lockdown, social distancing out the window.

But he also made the point to me last week when I was sat outside having tea crying (bad day!) that a lot of people are finding their care and support abandoned because of covid-19; Some have been told they won't get a ventilator (I'm in both groups hence him telling me) but he's also seeing increasing arrogance amongst staff with patients and rudeness. Yesterday whilst shopping, yet more tears flowed after a massive panic attack when waiting and I fell - I was helped by staff who got my food and took care of me (at a distance). The only person who complained was someone in a nurses uniform that I was getting helped whilst they were there on their lunch break from hospital waving their ID around for priority treatment yet being told they must queue, people were letting him jump the queue - but they actually got sent away because they were in uniform (staff were concerned for contamination) and then he really laid into the staff for being unfair and how they were a hero whereas I'm just some silly woman.

I did apologise. I'd not intended to queue jump, just couldn't cope anymore, and was really ashamed. The staff when I apologised profusely said I had nothing to apologise for. When I mentioned the nurse they said it's been happening a lot, staff turning up with ID demanding to skip the queues and being rude.

It won't be everyone. I know that as do those staff, but there are people even in the NHS who take the piss. I spent my time working there getting mocked by medical staff because I was "just admin" - right up until the day they were told without networks being installed, by me as no one else could do it, and them attending training, by me again only me, it would be closed down completely.

I don't clap. I give thanks for those who supported me when allowed; but it's hard knowing all my support has gone and I'm being left to manage my conditions alone because despite what keeps getting put on social media everything but emergencies here has been cancelled and many of those are going without treatment they'd usually have - the lady who told she can't have her breast lump investigated indefinitely despite having had breast cancer before; all clinics have been suspended - sexual health and diabetes among them; the lady from church who was told her iv chemo has been cancelled indefinitely and to take tablets at home instead, even though she'd been told they won't work as well before but "it'll do" now.

If it helps to know this, I'm absolutely determined that when this is over, I'll be nagging my MP to support proper pay rises for NHS staff and if that means paying a little more income tax, I'm in.

This crisis has been a sharp reminder of exactly what is really important in life - and who is really important to us as a nation.

This^
Tedsferderationrep
Took the words out of my mouth.

"It’s the same rhetoric and mythologising that allowed war time governments to get away with using people as cannon fodder and then not pick up the pieces afterwards."

^^ This. It's propaganda to guilt the NHS and all key workers into continuing to work, even though they have been massively let down by years of government underfunding and recent and current incompetence, from not ordering the recommended PPE a couple of years ago, to having a PM who arrogantly thought he could shake hands with people and not catch it, weeks after others had lessened unnecessary physical contact.

Propaganda is always necessary in wars though, so I wouldn't expect anything different. It also boosts morale.
See constant reporting of volunteer heroes too.

The thing that gets me about the clapping is people clapping standing right next to their neighbours in terraced houses with tiny front garden. Kind of defeats the purpose really. Can't they do it from a window instead?

Everyone knows this. That’s why they’re appreciative.

Calling nurses and doctors angels is obviously patronising twaddle. I’ve encountered plenty with terrible bedside manners and others who appeared not to like their jobs one bit.

But, people are desperately grateful right now that those workers are willing to keep going into work despite the challenges. That’s why they’re clapping.

No-one thinks it’s glamorous. Quite the opposite.

Tedsfederationrep, I'd really appreciate it to know how you're going to do this and wondering if a template letter could be drawn up so that we can ALL lobby our MPs about this and get it heard in Parliament.

You're absolutely right, we've had a rude awakening of the vulnerability of our NHS and we need to put it right.

YANBU and this is also why I hate the clapping. It diverts our attention from what those on the frontline are actually battling with; shortages, lack of protection and exposure to a deadly disease. Everyone then thinks they have done something or helped when they haven’t at all. They also make those working in these horrendous situations feel like they should be happy that random people are clapping them all. Why would they! How does it help or protect them.
OP I hope your DH gets through this safely and finds some peace when he is not at work. Wishing I could do something constructive to help people like your DH. I can only think of following the guidance right now and avoiding all unnecessary activity that could result in trips to hospital to ease their work load.

Everyone I know working in health care feels the same.

The 'army in blue' going to put their lives on the line as heroes is really upsetting people.

The first week felt good. Now it just feels like a massive distraction from the government's utter incompetence, lying and disregard for the people working in health and social care.

I fully support those on the front line. But spare a thought for those who are being voluntarily deployed in - vets and dentists who both have clinical skills.

Voluntary for vets and dentists. Both with businesses either shut or massively reduced in demand. Costs still ongoing. Not eligible for any grants, rates reduction etc. Asked to donate PPE they have bought at market price legitimately for their own business but told (as most earn more than £50,000) they are not deserving of financial support as presumably they should have unlimited pots of cash to subsidise both their business running costs plus their own personal costs for an limited amount of time.

Anyone volunteering in clinical roles such as these are doing so, putting their lives at risk in the same way as nhs staff, whilst knowing their business may not survive as the government is not helping them in the same way as shops and hotels. That is hard. I take my hat off to them as much as the front line staff.

I think it's putting unnecessary pressure on them. My mum is in her sixties and a nurse. She doesn't want to go on the covid wards and I don't want her to either.

If you are going to ask your MPs a question, you might want to ask some related questions?

Do you support the NHS?
Do you think health care professionals and other workers should have adequate PPE so they can be safe in their workplace? What do you think should happen where HCPs and others have had to work without adequate PPE and have died?
By how much are you willing to commit to increasing the funding of the NHS to ensure the UK is prepared for the next emergency?
Do you intend accepting the £10k rise in MPs funding during the COVID crisis for 'working from home'?
Will you donate your MPs earning above 80% of £50k to NHS/charity?
In-line with the funding available for self-employed people who, like MPs, earned above £50k, will you accept none of your MPs salary and donate 100%?

I don't clap (usually putting the kids to bed but say a prayer instead) my mum does. She claps because it gives her something to look forward to, a sense of community and because she wants to for her son and dd who are a dr and hospital pharmacist. My sister likes it and appreciates it, my db would prefer that people lobbied the government for adequate ppe. He is working on a covid ward and has finally been given decent ppe, before that it was an apron and a face mask.

For the person who said that people should not go to work of they are anxious about covid-19 it is really not as simple as that and quite frankly you are a numpty. If you work in health or social care then you have a duty to help others by using your skills and experience, you simply don't opt out. I work in pharmacy, I could choose to stay at home for 12 weeks unpaid but I would be doing a disservice to my profession and all those patients that need medication to live, from the 80 year old with angina to the 7 year old with asthma. I try to take adequate precautions and then I go to work because my skills are needed, doesn't mean I don't feel worried about bringing the virus home to my family.

It satisfies this government to call the NHS workers heroes because heroes are self sacrificing, so don't need recompense, except that they do. Pay all NHS workers a decent wage!

If suspected and the patient is waiting on the result we nurse them with plastic apron gloves and a standard surgical mask....lamb's to the slaughter

Same situation where I am.

Not sure how I feel about the clapping tbh - so many clapping voted for a party that was open about it's future lack of funding for the NHS. So many hero worshipping Boris now that he's ill, but hardly any even mentioning the amount of Dr's and Nurses dying when a lot of those deaths were preventable.

Yep, the nurses I know agree. Several of them are thinking of quitting. Several of them are under intense pressure from their family to quit. All of them hate the clapping - particularly hate the fucking useless shite MPs clapping.

For a start MPs could give up a months salary to be used for NHS bonuses for all staff. That's what the Singapore and Hong Kong governments did. Rather than awarding themselves a 10k increase in their expense limit (i'm hoping at least that will turn out not to happen - also what home office costs 10k? Are the computers going to be made of gold?).

And obviously the government needs to organise and fund proper PPE, ventilators and tests for hospitals and other healthcare settings.

The clapping, whilst it comes from a good place, isn't as good as everyone who claps spending that time writing to their MP and telling them to pull their fucking fingers out. And telling them they will be held accountable for unnecessary deaths, particularly of frontline staff (look at Germany's number of cases vs death rate, or Korea, to see what a properly funded health service can do). I've done so.

I hope your dh stays safe through all this x

It satisfies this government to call the NHS workers heroes because heroes are self sacrificing, so don't need recompense, except that they do

Excellent point. The sense of duty shown by many HCP's is being taken advantage of I think. Ultimately, we are all trained to put our own health and safety first though, dead staff can't help anyone after all, plus their much needed knowledge, skill and experience dies with them .

This has been so interesting to read and a page i will follow onwards. Im glad front line works are honestly saying how they feel

The public can't provide the NHS with what they need, so I don't see a problem with them clapping to show appreciation

Oh yes the public can, they could write to their MPs to demand better pay and conditions for the NHS but that would take effort, feeling good about rattling a pan is far easier.

ensure it isn’t jeered out the house like Boris and his government did last time.

Yes, let's see all those Tories who cheered when nurses were denied a payrise, hang their heads in shame and dip into their pockets to support their local hospital.

And when Boris Johnson is better, instead of the silly letter he wrote, write us another one to say how ashamed he was of his behaviour.

These are just members of the public though and not powerful government bodies. People are just doing what they can to show appreciation. Mrs Smith next door cant give nhs workers a pay rise although I'm sure she would love to so she claps instead.

There are lots of reports of lack of ppe, scared key workers, people dying of the virus, people with other conditions unable to get the treatment they need because resources have been diverted. It’s an attempt to bring some positivity to the nation amongst this huge s#&@ storm that is going on. If standing in the street banging pans or clapping gives people a sense of community and support then I’m not going to complain. Everybody knows the nhs is on its knees as are all public services and hopefully when all is calm again it will be rectified. It is no different to people turning their Facebook pages in response to a terror incident. Doing it does absolutely nothing about the situation but people feel united and right now the public as a majority are united in their thanking of nhs staff. I for one would rather see mrs maple down the road banging her saucepan with a wooden spoon than another report of some self centred muppet having a bbq down Brighton sea front

I imagine that most hospitals have charities attached, which you could donate to? Not everyone will be able to if they have lost their income because of the lockdown, but plenty of others will be able to do so still.