Feeding the NHS staff 3 meals a day 7 days a week?

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

My local food businesses are asked for donations so they can cook and deliver 3 meals a day 7 days a week to the ICU staff at our local hospitals.

It's a really lovely thing to do, and I know people like to feel like their are helping in times of crisis.

Do the ICU staff really want curries for lunch and dinner every day?

Couldn't these generous donations be better somewhere else?

I understand gift of thanks to the ICU staff (and others!) for doing an amazing job. But do they need so many meals everyday?

I guess I'm just not totally convinced it's helping. Not every day in one direction.

It's possible to be grateful, thankful and honoured by people's generosity and gestures and be overwhelmed at the same time.

I'm not ungrateful, and at the very start of this thread I was willingly told I was wrong an unreasonable.

But hours later I'm being berated which I'm finding unfair.
But it's weird times and people are pissed off so I guess I was asking for it.
My fault entirely. Should have read the room.

My husband has been living in a hotel for nearly a month now. I can’t see him to drop off food.

He doesn’t have time to shop as his shifts are running to 16/17 hour days.
He is so grateful for the sandwiches and meals handed out outside his hospital.

He finishes his shift, cycles to the hotel, gets back to his room and either stuffs a sandwich into his mouth or if he has the energy, microwaves a meal which has been donated by a local resident, takeaway or catering company. Then he falls asleep for a few short hours.

The shops at the hospital, like other shops operate a one in one out (or similar) system, and the canteens are also convoluted to get a meal from during the 20 min (max) break that he might manage to take.

NHS doctors are treated like shit by the public most of the time

Never been so kindly treated. Even got an Easter egg at Morrisons

Often have done 12 -14hour shifts with nothing to eat, not even time to drink, or go for a wee. Getting a meal is pretty amazing to be honest

I think most hospitals are politely saying no to meals right now as we are sorted but reception redirecting queries to vulnerable group watch and mobile foodbank volunteers instead

Our staff canteen is now open 24/7 queues look long but moves quickly. At first it was just chips but now there is a choice of hot meal or a packed lunch (sandwich etc). Or you can just have fruit. All free of charge (seems odd as most NHS staff can easily afford it).
There is just not enough space to sit and eat

There are a lot of staff staying in local hotels. They don't have the luxury of bringing their own lunch.

I’m aware of several staff in my trust that live with someone who is being shielded, I’m one of them.

As we’re unable to practice stringent social distancing we have to isolate from our family member, out trust is putting these people up in hotels for 12 weeks.

That's 12 weeks with no cooker, washing machine or microwave and the canteen is only open for an hour at lunchtime for stuff you ordered the day before.

There’s no one bringing hot food to my rural trust but I’d be delighted if they did.

Please don’t believe that your own narrow experience Is the same for everyone, some people are really struggling.

Our canteen opens 7am-9am, 12-2.30pm, 5-7pm. This is normal hours. That’s it. Our coffee places and other food places have all closed down. M&S is open but short hours. And I work in a massive south London teaching hospital

Food deliveries are definitely well received.

I think anything to help our poor staff out ATM should be welcomed TBH! They are working their ass off right now ,surely a nice cooked meal given to them by a friendly local restaurant is a huge ego boost for them all!

Feel happy (and sorry) for the midwives at my hospital where I'll deliver. They post photos of cakes that get donated to them daily! Going to be some heavier midwives in a few weeks time!

It’s an unusual time to work in the NHS and I don’t see why providing healthy, filling meals is anything other than a kindness. Maybe it’s not “needed” for everyone but sometimes it’s nice just to be nice. I donated and I felt it was worthwhile. I’m sure there are charities, causes and events other people donate to that I don’t think are worthy. 🤷🏻‍♀️
For what it’s worth, it’s easy to say some staff may not “need” it but there are HCAs, porters and cleaners etc who are very low earners but without them, the hospital wouldn’t function. I don’t begrudge them free meals.

In our trust porters and cleaners cannot use the canteen in main building during the week have to go to a separate one as they are not employed by NHS - I sincerely hope theirs is free

stuff prepared in professional kitchens is OK (but there might easily be more needy recipients), but I'm gobsmacked at all the cooking meals for the NHS in domestic kitchens that seems to be going on. No guarantee of food storage or hygiene standards, seems an ideal way to spread the virus.

Company I'm at redirected our weekly fruit delivery as well as tea/coffee/milk to the local hospital so staff can have a few healthy snacks on the go and drinks for breaks.

It was gratefully received by all accounts.

I can barely be bothered to bring food to work at the best of times. Factor in logistics of buying stuff, or having to queue, or canteen not being open or getting in/out PPE gear, or frankly just feeling exhausted and emotional - think people would be v happy with a nice meal.

@fuckinghellthisshit, Khalsa Aid? I think you and I may live in the same small town!

PrivateD00r
1300 I hope you are going to go back to your ward and challenge the lack of social distancing!

If you know how to log roll a patient remaining 2m away from colleagues, please post your technique here, not possible unless your pt is over 2m wide and 4m tall.

We are now being advised to wear PPE for all patients, given the risk of someone being asymptomatic... This is not 'wasting' PPE, I can assure you!

Now on this one I agree with you and have argued this - but it's not my decision unfortunately.

Many Sikh and Muslim charities step in at times of crisis. During the floods they were out not only helping residents drain floodwater from homes and putting up flood defences, but bringing clothes, essentials and hot food. The same can be said for this current situation. They are providing shopping bags of essentials for the most vulnerable and needy as well as hot food - not just curries btw. The Gurudwaras are doing the same for local communities. All year round the kitchens of the Gurudwaras provide food for the vulnerable.
I have seen food being delivered to the homeless and those who are isolating or vulnerable, so it is not just the NHS that is receiving these kind donations. It really restores my faith to see so many people being selfless

@Moominmammaatsea Calder valley?