Should NHS staff go ahead in queues?

[Supermummy4]

I have only done a few times, and got some evil looks from the others queuing. I was knackered and needed some essentials and needed to pick my children up from school as I have hardly seen them so thought 'just this once, again'-might not do it again!
It sort of felt like all the clapping in the world and rainbows doesn't mean much in the real world, but I might be a bit more careful about waving my lanyard around in the future (and yes, i'm core ward NHS staff working on covid wards fwiw).
Any thoughts from others very welcome.

I went to do my shop yesterday mid morning and there wasn't a proper queue as such just that you had to walk around the roped off section up to an employee who asked what trolley you wanted and wiped it then gave it to you. You then walked forward to the security guard who was letting one in one out but as it was quite it meant a queue hadn't actually formed, it was more a process to go through to get in the shop.

As I was getting my trolley from the man disinfecting it a lady walked up to the barrier at the front with a trolley (not disinfected). She called over the security guard and then put her nhs lanyard on. He moved the barrier so she could go straight in.

As I did my shop I must have passed her a dozen times with. She was clearly in no hurry but given there wasn't actually a queue in the first place I didn't understand why she didn't follow the normal procedure the rest of us were going through to get in. It actually meant she went in without her trolley being wiped, not that that necessarily does much but still.

I think it's probably time the nhs priority queue jumping stopped as it doesn't seem necessary anymore and from my experience yesterday seemed to just be being used for the sake of it.

I've presented my id badge for 10% off in The Range and Pets at Home. Considering over the years I've spent a lot of money in both of these places I wasn't shy in showing it. I haven't used it to jump queues though.

My colleague uses hers as she gets free bus travel to work. However if someone jumped in front of me with their id badge I'd soon be waving mine in their face.

Sorry but there are tons of reasons why people might want to jump the queue. I don't think just doing your job warrants it, no matter what that job is.

[quote Supermummy4]@Nartl0ngNow

I agree that pregnant women, people with disabilities and elderly should get priority.[/quote]
I find it bizarre that these groups are not prioritised in queuing systems. It worries me about life post shielding because I cant stand for very long.

Im frontline nhs and haven't used it (not needed to). I wouldn't resent anyone who did though if they were pushed for time or like yourself exhausted.

I wouldn't be impressed if someone pushed infront of me in a queue. I work mon - fri and am tired like the rest of you but can still queue before getting home to feed the kids.

No maybe in the beginning but now a lot are back in work so we can't just allow people to push in .

I’m NHS but would be mortified to queue jump. However I’m definitely not above scouting out all the NHS discount codes for online shopping so I’m not convinced I can take any sort of high ground here

There are so many people that work for our local hospital its the biggest employer. Not all work on covid wards and since we have 2 people in hospital at present and had one of the lowest rates of covid for the entire pandemic it would be a bit much for all nhs staff to jump the queue... especially since many departments are twiddling their thumbs shut and really want to open to actually do some work!

I think most of us would use common sense as the OP clearly has

I am NHS but am asthmatic so moved to a non-patient facing role. I have never needed to use any of the concessions and would feel a fraud to use them normally but, if I needed to, I would without hesitation. I'm sick of people whining all the "whataboutery" whenever this is mentioned - I saw one on a local FB page that went from what about carers, key workers, etc right through to someone who wanted the same privilege because she had to drive her mother to the shops once a week

I’m a nurse, frontline on covid ward also paeds and I really couldn’t just walk in in front of a full queue of people who have stood and waited their turn. I just would feel horrible so I go shopping early am on nhs day or later after a shift when there are no queues. I don’t think I deserve special treatment nor do I want it

I might use it if I was in the middle of a shift and had left my lunch in the kitchen table and needed a sandwich and a bottle of water. But not otherwise. The only person I know who uses the NHS hour in the supermarket has moaned about lack of work all through covid and hadn't so much as spoken to a patient on the phone for the last year, never mind put herself in harms way. But she's glad to get the perks, including the shopping hour and make sure all her FB friends know she works for the nhs and all the "sacrifices" she's made over the last few months .

Every other person in know just joins the queue. It's great the NHS has been recognised, but I think there are some other key workers making bigger sacrifices - look at the residential home staff, the social carers who were ignored for weeks trying to get PPE, keep people safe, mainly in minimum wage. How is it that someone who works for "the NHS" in no more danger than the general population, can get an hour special shopping in the supermarket, while social carers, who work long long days for various private companies don't get priority?

No, not anymore. They have absolutely no reason to queue jump and we all have reasons and excuses as to why we might need to skip to the front.

No longer necessary. And other people have been drafted into work now, so we are all working long days and don’t want to spend our free time queueing. And most towns and cities have had no covid casualties, so not ‘run off their feet’, or at least no busier than any other full time worker.

It was fair enough at the start of lockdown with huge queues and panic buyers clearing out certain items, but I don't think it should be a thing now, no. Lots of people are keyworkers or might have particular circumstances that affect them in different ways.

A lot of the posts on here are really quite sad. A few weeks ago we were clapping NHS, grateful for everything they were doing.
Also a key worker, I recall driving to work on those spookily quiet roads when oncoming car stopped to let an ambulance turn right out onto our road, fair distance away so I was also able to stop so it could carry on - smiles & waves from drivers of both vehicles. It really felt “nice” and like we were in something together. Now we are quibbling about who goes into a shop first. Ffs
OP I have no problem with you going to the front of the queue. I really, really hope never to see you in your work capacity, but if I do I’d much rather you were on form

@feebeecat People can still be grateful for NHS workers without thinking you should go to the front of the queue. You’ve absolutely no need.

I am not a ‘key worker’ but apparently classed as a ‘critical worker’ who has worked all the way through lockdown, with all holiday leave cancelled and as a single mum to 3 children with no childcare options apart from a relative who was happy to help. I have worked harder then ever during lockdown as my job load literally doubled over night, I am physically and mentally drained...I have not had one perk of being able to queue jump or a discount of any kind, but a relative who works 1 day a week for the nhs has

[quote heartsonacake]**@feebeecat People can still be grateful for NHS workers without thinking you should go to the front of the queue. You’ve absolutely no need.[/quote]
But why not? Why is it such a big deal?
I suppose there are always going to be a few who may not be frontline/entitled, (there usually are) but the others? I’m not going to begrudge them. I’ve just read a few posts on here recently about how it’s not fair anymore, but I didn’t think we were quite out of the woods yet? We might need these people to risk their lives for us again yet 🤷‍♀️

But why not? Why is it such a big deal?

@feebeecat Because everyone has reasons and excuses why they need to skip to the front. There’s simply no need for anyone to be doing so; a first come, first serve system is fair for everyone.

Not allowing key workers to skip to the front of the queue isn’t going to affect whether or not they can successfully do their jobs, which is what you seem to be implying with “we may need them again”. The two things are entirely irrelevant.

I read this the other day and it resonated with me in more ways than one, I believe if you change some of the wording to suit your own profession and family, most would related in someday or another.

www.willispalmer.com/covid-19-a-frontline-social-workers-perspective/

No one wants to dismiss anyone whose worked beyond exhaustion and taken care of their family’s and become teachers overnight to boot, while I admire front line/key workers I don’t believe the NHS should be given this golden ticket to heaven, I’ve said this along.

As there is non NHS essential workers equally putting themselves at risk.

As my -0 year olds say, the world sucks right now.

I give up, I need to stop using predictive text

Absolutely should not be able to queue jump. Disabilities should be the only reason in my mind.

My DF is disabled and struggles to stand for too long. He shouldn't be standing in a 60 minute queue.

There are a hell of a lot of people working incredibly hard, some for the NHS without being employed by the NHS. There shouldn't be a two tier queuing system.

@HunterHearstHelmsley what about a heavily pregnant woman? The list is endless. People need to que and wait there turn or shop online

There’s many people with a disability some probably not visible it would go on and on.... ridiculous