THE CLAP. Let's settle this. If you work for the NHS, what do you think of it?

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

YABU = I'd rather it stopped now.

YANBU = I still like it.

Yes it's yet another Clap thread, sorry. But all the other threads seem to be populated mostly by people (me included) second-guessing what NHS workers actually want.

Non-NHS workers: if you can, please sit on your hands for this thread. No sneaky voting just because you have strong views on the matter.

I've missed almost all of them due to being at work but the one I heard I felt strangely moved by because things have been tough in A&E for so many years now, (tougher pre-pandemic tbh) however I am in a labour stronghold and my neighbours have been supportive and appalled for years and asked how I was a lot before the pandemic too, I think I would actually lose my shit if I had tory voting neighbours clapping

so... mixed

What I do find a bit difficult is everyone trying to feed us right now!! We get food delivered to A&E all the time.

We have jobs!
We can eat!

I have also have friends send me food in the post... what is that about??! I mean I said thank you but... I have a job! Send to the foodbanks...

(A couple of local beauty places sent us some nice skin cream samples into A&E though, I liked that! And loads of places have been sending in PPE which has been invaluable)

As my user name, supermarket worker here. Please stop it. The NHS is marvellous, I wouldn't want to do their job. Mind you, sometimes recently I wouldn't want to do MY job!

What I'd like is that every Thursday we would be allowed to clap someone round the head when they moan at the check-out staff about queuing, product restrictions, lack of stock etc. Now THAT is worth voting for!

I'm NHS and the cynic in me thinks it's part of this government's long-term strategy to destroy the NHS and privatise healthcare. Opportunistic of course - no one predicted the current situation - but welcome.

The patronising hero / war rhetoric, "protect the NHS" as if it's a weak gasping animal on its last legs, overenthusiastic clapping as if we're toddlers taking wobbly steps rather than skilled professionals doing the jobs they were trained for... And we all know what happens when someone or something is put on a pedestal.

I’ve never liked it, felt lucky I have set nights so am always in work when it’s happening. Once would have been nice, not my thing but nice.

In NHS 31years now. I want the clap to stop now. Anne Marie Plas was the catalyst for the weekly clap to show gratitude to not only NHS but all key workers just as worthy of a clap than any NHS worker. This week she suggested that this Thursday should be the last "clap"

I think it was a lovely gesture week one but has descended into a divisive and almost bullying activity. I love the NHS must do been here long enough but I do not need to go outside and clap to show that.

As a nation come the next GE we need to hold our politicians and political parties to account for their record on funding, running and attitude towards the NHS only then might we get a government that can take the NHS forward in a positive way and enable it to provide world class healthcare.

I thought this was a thread about gonorrhoea...

'Protect the NHS' was a completely cynical PR move to ensure that when people became angry about lockdown and government mismanagement of the pandemic, they would direct their anger at the NHS.

We were never protecting 'the NHS'. The idea was to protect society, to protect the people the NHS exists to serve, by slowing the spread of a deadly contagious disease.

But it was a genius comms move, and now people are angry that they're sacrificing to 'protect the NHS' but that was never, ever about the institution, it was to protect YOU. But I expect whoever came up with that little zinger will get a nice Christmas bonus, because it has worked an absolute treat at distracting from the incompetence of this government.

Anyway, I hate the clap. I'd rather people showed their gratitude by following the rules.

A load of self- congratulatory, virtue signalling, cringey nonsense.

I am NHS,I liked it the first few weeks and felt really Grateful that here in Northern Ireland we all were on the same side for once lol. But I am getting a bit fed up and neighbours constantly asking me inappropriate questions about the numbers in our hospital etc which obvs I can not answer - hope it stops until we fully lift lockdown where one final farewell would be nice

I like it.

Plus it brings community spirit back to the streets. I have noticed every Thursday when I drive past everyone who's taking part.

That they all chat to the neighbours after and its nice to see people talking instead of just rushing in there houses and ignoring whoever is around.

Loved it initially
I did cry actually
It was nice to feel appreciated and I did feel uncertain and a bit unsafe at that point. We were (and we still are) risking being infected at work. I have a colleague in ITU.
It was nice to feel people appreciated the risks we had to take

I don't mind if it stops now though
I've got used to how things are now
Things are going to go back to normal more from now on so it feels out of place.
My neighbour claps very enthusiastically and I always wonder if he feels he has to knowing I am NHS
I usually forget it is a Thursday and just feel mildly surprised for a minute until I remember.

So from my POV
Thanks it was appreciated but can stop now.

Community nurse. Never been out for one as rather embarrassed by it, it’s also right on my children’s bedtime and wakes them up when I’ve just got them off !
Plus I do my job because I love it, I’m usually appreciated by most of my patients and relatives and most importantly I am getting my full wage every month. There are many people who won’t be having that for a long time.
There is really no need for a clap!

30 years NHS here. Sweet the first week or so now cringe. The hospitals are pretty empty and have been decanting covid patients for some weeks now. When I hear it now I feel like shouting “get back to work and school now please”.

I got a bit emotional the first time, but now it feels like virtue signalling crap. I live in a town where people voted Brexit and Tory - as an EU national working for the NHS for 22 years, I feel these clapping people should put their votes where their claps are if they're serious about supporting the NHS.

I think on my very-tory street it's ridiculous

I'm an NHS worker (not frontline) and I dont clap. I really do appreciate the banners, the rainbows and the efforts people have made but the only people out clapping in my road are the ones smoking, drinking and socialising throughout lockdown. They bang pans, shout and cheer and recently have managed to set off fireworks. It all feels a bit look at me but considering none of them seem to work I guess it gives them a focus and a way of remembering what day it is.

I agree that I have a good salary, no fears about losing my job and no need for free toiletries. I'd rather they give to those who are financially struggling and top up the food banks etc.

I definitely think that clapping can now stop, just remember when we get to vote that you use it wisely and dont go for the people who clap and cheer now but also clapped and cheered when they voted that nurses shouldn't get a wage increase.

Ok, 393 votes and still relatively steady at 93% YABU (commentary for those not voting).

I wonder how people in Italy and other places with a clap (or equivalent) feel about their version now. Hope we're not the only ones who've deviated into virtue signalling, curtain twitching bullies.

NHS here too, yes, working my backside off, but had my lanyard on visiting a supermarket after shift finished and cashier thanked me 'for all I'm doing' tbh, I felt a bit embarassed, There are lots of people working hard now, but at least we're in work and it's secure, and don't like shop workers have people getting arsey all the time , coughing etc whilst queuing etc. Our hospital is not currently full so some people are not doing much at all, others, including me working flat out. Gifts from firms , whilst appreciated, are unnecessary, plants, chocolate, hot meals, sometimes it's like a free for all, there are a lot more people on the breadline than I am , also as some others at work have mentioned, there is a cynicism that firms that have donated are all over social media saying what thye've done. It is awful now that there has been negativity after such unity, people are so fed up but unless it affects them directly are likely to ignore all advice and do what they choose regardless

I'm NHS frontline but signed off sick with mental health problems now so the Thursday night noise just makes me feel guilty that I'm not at work & even more paranoid...

@Terralee

I had some time off over winter with burnout @Terralee and most doctors I know have been off at some point - even the ones that seem so stoic

Pre pandemic 1/3 of doctors were reporting burnout, now it's even more

www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/27/third-of-uk-doctors-report-burnout-and-compassion-fatigue

Don't know what field you are in, but you are not alone. When the levels of sickness are this high, it is only partly to do with individual sickness - some of it is systemic

All your work is very appreciated , you are just not well right now. Take care xx

NHS and stop now please. Also don't need free food etc but at the same time grateful for the sentiment behind it, however there are many more deserving cases than nurses and doctors in relatively well paid and secure jobs. Quick point for ivfgottostaypositive re nurses getting "back to basics" and not needing university training - I'm assuming you have been fortunate enough to have never been a patient in ITU or you would be really quite keen for your nurse not be "basic" and be capable of calculating your drug dosage and adjusting your ventilator support to keep you alive. This kind of comment is not helpful and promotes outdated stereotypes.

Hope we're not the only ones who've deviated into virtue signalling, curtain twitching bullies
Really?
I hope we are.
I like to think there are communities from which we could learn.