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.

@feebeecat I feel really gutted to see the way people talk about NHS workers 'having little or nothing to do because clinics are closed' or 'working from home so can't be that important'. The clapping and rainbows were all for show and the true opinions that we are all 'generously paid' and lazy have returned.

For every NHS worker that may not have had to work as hard during the crisis, there will be another 3 that are working doubly hard and will have made significant sacrifices to continue working.

And there is absolutely no doubt that there are lots of other invaluable people in society who should be recognised for their contribution to society during the pandemic.

However the majority of us do not flash our badges just to jump queues or receive privileges on a regular basis. As with all privileges, you will get some who abuse it which is annoying but the OP and overwhelming majority of NHS workers on this thread do not do this on a regular basis

heartsonacake not irrelevant at all, just perhaps indicative of something else.
It’s a shame we have so swiftly forgotten how we expected some people to put their lives on the line, literally, but now it’s down to “excuses” for what is, let’s face it, a tiny element of preferential treatment - guess every special snowflake and their “excuses” just think they’re entitled 🤷‍♀️

heartsonacake not irrelevant at all, just perhaps indicative of something else.

feebeecat Of course it’s irrelevant. Or can you explain to me how the ability to skip the queue will affect how a keyworker does their job?

Again, nobody is ungrateful and of course we all appreciate the work they do, but the fact of the matter is that everyone has a reason to skip the queue, so the system must be fair for all.

I'd say no tbh. The world isn't divided into NHS staff who are rushed off their feet and knackered, and everyone else who is having an easy time of it and has lots of spare time.

Some people are furloughed, but not the majority. Lots of people are working long hours right now, in various industries. People might have disabilities or illnesses that make it harder for them to queue. And single parents are having a really hard time shopping. Plenty of people in the queue will have a valid reason to go to the front, why should NHS be the only group singled out?

It's easy to say "I'm NHS and have worked a long shift and am tired", but at least a few of the people in front of you in the queue will also have worked a long tiring shift in a different job. And it's likely that their jobs (if private sector) are a lot more precarious right now than that of the NHS worker.

(I'm ex-NHS btw, so nothing against NHS staff. I just think that some of the current freebies and offers etc. are well meant but misguided.)

Anyway, that's a long winded way of saying I wouldn't be waving my lanyard if I still worked in the NHS.

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

Or the systems of identifying people with disabilities that are already in place could be used.

Not every one can afford to use internet shopping given the delivery fees added on if you're under 40 quid. Some older adults who have mobility problems dont have access to the internet.

If this is long term, then society needs to adapt to be inclusive to people with disabilities.

heartsonacake - just lost a rather longer post that explained relevance- abridged version:-

1. I’ve (me) just done a full shift at work, few people in so working twice as hard, in really weird conditions, it’s knackering, want to go home and start homeschooling my kids, need milk - damn.
2. just done shift at work, in full PPE, few people dying, really weird,horrible, hot conditions, it’s knackering, want to go home and just see my kids, hope I don’t infect them. Need milk, damn. If you can’t spot the difference . . .

Coffeechocolatecoffee some people have short memories

A perk would be something like money off coupons or free dellivery, whereas skipping a queue is being prioritised, as it affects everyone else who is queueing. I think that is an important distinction to make.

I would say that being prioritised should depend on need.

I suppose only people who are working for the NHS know whether they are in need of being prioritised on the occassion that they visit the supermarket.

Yes, they should. Always.
From a slightly selfish perspective: I want these workers to be able to get their lunch etc as quickly as they can so they can have a proper break before they're back treating the most vulnerable.
Most health workers don't get their standard breaks which is awful enough for any worker let alone the ones who look after us at our most vulnerable.
Jumping the queue is the least we can give them.

Feebeecat - this isn't about short memories. There has never been any logic or justification for deifying NHS workers and giving them numerous perks while, in most cases, care home workers and other essential key workers/emergency services got nothing.

Giving someone a discount doesn't disadvantage anyone else, but allowing them to jump a queue does. Every person who goes to the front of the queue makes the rest of the queue wait longer. That queue may well contain emergency service workers, single parents trying to manage the shop with children, an elderly/disabled/pregnant/unwell person, and it will definitely contain at least some people who are working full time and juggling childcare with long hours (since most workers in the UK haven't been furloughed).

All those people are disadvantaged, and for what? Because an NHS worker worked a shift?

It's neither logical nor fair, and I wouldn't be using it if I was still working in that sector.

Also, there are lots of key workers who have had to wear PPE and deal with intense, emotionally distressing situations as part of their job recently. Not just NHS, by any measure. Do we routinely give the fire service perks like this? They deal with hot, distressing shifts in PPE all the time, not just during COVID.

Just been reading this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3937908-is-anyone-else-hating-their-nhs-life?pg=1

It makes you realise how traumatic and hard it is working for the NHS ayr the moment. I don't give a shit if they 'jump' the queue.

Not anymore. There is plenty opportunity to get groceries, the quest for that are shorten now, and non essential shipping is juts that and can be done on days off.

I would be in the group giving dirty looks sorry. I’ve been working throughout but I’m not nhs or a carer although I deal with vulnerable adults in need of urgent help. We’ve heaps of staff shielding or have been off sick so we’ve all been working overtime to the extent some days I don’t see my kids awake at all. We get no discounts or perks and when I’m in the queue for Lidl so I can get the shopping so my dp doesn’t have to take the kids and cope with the dirty looks from people it’s so frustrating when others jump the line.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that there’s discounts for nhs staff as they work their socks off but that doesn’t mean I think they should jump the queue.

As a lot of people are now working, many in key worker positions, I really don’t think there is a need anymore.

It has always been the case that the majority of the workforce were still working and not furloughed.

Recepticalfortgerespectable - seriously?
Dear god. May I also add, I think care home workers/emergency services should all be right up there too.
I think the issue here may be that some people are considering themselves as being “disadvantaged” for having to potentially wait, what, five minutes longer 🤷‍♀️ no logic to that

@feebeecat Again, neither of those scenarios is either a) a reason for you to skip to the front of the queue or b) a reason why not being able to skip to the front of the queue would affect your job.

You can’t answer my question because there isn’t an answer.

You are speaking emotionally and not looking at the bigger picture. Yes, you are doing a hard job, nobody’s denying that, but everyone has it hard at the moment.

I am very happy for NHS staff to skip queues.

Massive queue at b and m the other day. Young woman came behind me with her NHS hoodie and lanyard. I said to her she could go in front of me and she said “right” and went in front. No smile or thank you (I am in my 60s).
I felt disappointed

Feebeecat and LettyBriggs, I'm sorry if I've misunderstood, but are you saying that all NHS workers should be entitled to go to the front of queues, even if there are elderly people or people with disabilities waiting?

It's never bothered me, although I didn't think it was really a 'thing' anymore since panic buying calmed down.

Queues tend to look much worse than they really are now due to social distancing but on the whole they tend to move fairly quickly.

Unless a coach load of keyworkers turn up, it's not going to make any real difference to anyone if the odd person nips ahead.

The problem with queue jumping just because you work in the NHS is that so many people have had terrible care by NHS employees and so will not be impressed by them avoiding the queue when they could possibly be terrible uncaring or incompetent staff

@Wishforsnow

The problem with queue jumping just because you work in the NHS is that so many people have had terrible care by NHS employees and so will not be impressed by them avoiding the queue when they could possibly be terrible uncaring or incompetent staff

I can't tell if this is meant to be satire...

I don’t care.