To find people's duplicity towards key workers upsetting

[hibbledibble]

On one hand, it's 'clap for carers' and praising NHS staff as 'heroes'.

On the other hand, the amount of vitriol towards key workers who need childcare so they can do their jobs is shocking. In addition, the public that praises us, also ignores lockdown rules, causing even greater strain to the NHS.

I am a doctor, and I was redeployed during the first wave. It was horrific. I am still recovering now, and seeking treatment for PTSD. I have seen many of my colleagues become seriously unwell, and others have died.

We don't want claps (in fact, please don't) but decent, safe working conditions (including proper PPE), and sufficient childcare. I can't work from home, so my children (primary and preschool age) need to be cared for.

I admit I am taking this fairly personally as I have seen first hand the absolute horror that this virus has caused, and have been traumatised by it. My hospital is well over capacity, and people are dying waiting for ventilators.

Just wait to be told how ungrateful you are because you have a well paid, secure job with a decent pension. They'll be here soon...

I don't think anyone would begrudge your child one of the places at school surely. As for ignoring the guidance well, there are many reasons; covid deniers, people thinking it won't happen to them, people not caring about others etc.

Nobody is begrudging your child a key-worker space at school, and I find it difficult to believe you think they do. People are however raising eyebrows at the accountants, IT managers and many other workers who are suddenly identifying as key-workers.

Thank you for what you do. I don’t think most people understand what it is really like on a covid ward.

Hopefully it’s a vocal minority. Front line healthcare workers should be fully supported (and adequately compensated).

I haven’t seen any vitriol towards nhs workers who want childcare places. I have , however, seen vitriol towards working mothers, parents with disabled children, parents living in crowded accommodation , etc etc etc and parents who just generally, not unreasonably, want their children to go to school. Don’t be such a martyr.

I haven't heard a single person say that! In fact, the opposite is true - people are opposed to every man and his dog claiming to be a key worker BECAUSE there needs to be spaces for the children of theNHS.

Op you've totally missed the point of what people are saying. Obviously nobody begrudges doctors and nurses taking keyworker school places.

I won’t be joining in on the clappy clap clap because I believe it to be some government ‘all in it together’ pish designed your keep the Facebook-Chester-drawers-selling types obeying the rules.

No offence to any NHS staff, appreciate what you do.

It is really unlikely anyone would be upset at a healthcare workers child being given a space ( maybe if other parent was available?). for what you have and are going through .

AFAICS the vitriol is against people who have a key worker in the couple and the other is a SAHP/can WFH/CAN look after the kids but can't be arsed. That's all. No one is bashing key workers who genuinely need the spaces. It's capable people who won't suffer the inconvenience of a child at home so they don't them off onto the school. Many of us are mad about it because it means the infection rates won't go down. Lockdown will go on forever. And whilst the piss takers kids get time at school those of us keeping kids home will suffer further, and that's because the piss takers (NB before I get flamed - NOT GENUINE KEY WORKERS WHO NEED THE SPACES) thought they were special

I think you are being unreasonable as I find it hard to believe that anybody has suggested your DC shouldn't have a keyworker space.

There has been an awful lot of negativity, from key worker children having access to childcare, to people resenting 'key worker' status, to complaining about NHS discounts (which existed for a long time before covid). There are also those complaining about how the NHS is terrible because they can't access services etc, when the service is completely overwhelmed now.

I’m a teacher and I am happy to provide school provision and increase my own exposure to the virus risk for parents with jobs like yours. I am livid about the families with a SAHP and those who are ridiculously trying to twist the definition of key worker taking up places! They go back home and leave me MORE exposed to the virus risk! That is not reasonable behaviour. Not fair on me. Not fair on society as a whole.

@TheYearOfSmallThings

Nobody is begrudging your child a key-worker space at school, and I find it difficult to believe you think they do. People are however raising eyebrows at the accountants, IT managers and many other workers who are suddenly identifying as key-workers.

This.

This is exactly why there has been a lot of negatively towards KW recently. Not because of doctors.

On the other hand, the amount of vitriol towards key workers who need childcare so they can do their jobs is shocking

I’m sorry . I can 10000% assure you I have no vitriol towards you
On the contrary
The anger I’ve seen on another thread is not , not towards you
I’ve been on that thread and have followed it

It’s a really shitty hard time , hide threads
It’s hard enough as it is
And whilst I don’t know what you’ve read , i iterate any angry I’ve seen is not directed at genuine cases like yourself
Again I’m sorry

Very little vitriol towards NHS key workers. Plenty reserved for key workers who are not NHS, though.

Let’s be honest, there’s ‘key workers’ and KEY WORKERS.

Frontline care staff are absolutely at the top of the vast majority of the publics respect list. Doctors, nurses, carers, pharmacy staff etc... I honest can’t imagine anyone would have anything other that positive words to say about you guys. I think you all deserve the biggest bludy medals and I think I speak for most people!!! So thank you so much.

On the other hand, some people take the absolute pi*s!

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time.

As a teacher, I don't resent the children of NHS staff being in school.

My concern is that schools where 50-75% of children are coming in will continue to spread the virus- and also that outbreaks might cause people like you to lose your provision (because teachers are ill and the school can't open).

You obviously deserve safe working conditions too!

@Bizawit

I haven’t seen any vitriol towards nhs workers who want childcare places. I have , however, seen vitriol towards working mothers, parents with disabled children, parents living in crowded accommodation , etc etc etc and parents who just generally, not unreasonably, want their children to go to school. Don’t be such a martyr.

No vitriol her. Nothing to see.

I think you’re missing the point. No one is vitriolic against people who are genuinely requiring child care, as in your situation. It’s others who are playing the system, who may have a keyworker, but also a sahp. Those of us who are critical of that are actually on your side, as this whole school closure situation is to prevent spread of the virus, and therefore protect the NHS.

I think genuine front line key workers have been caught up in a bit of a key worker kind of piss take. The world and his wife are now key workers. There are kids in our school who shouldn’t be. My dd was on zoom today and said, oh mum the school isn’t closed to all year groups - I saw a whole year group on zoom at school! I know kids in there who absolutely don’t need to be.

Everyone has some excuse as to why they need to go somewhere. That was started by Cummings.

Not many people really give a shit about anyone other than themselves. It’s all for Instagram. I never clapped, I thought it was a useless occasion and I was usually working my ass off anyway so didn’t even realise.

I haven't seen any vitriol at all about key workers wanting childcare places. I've seen a lot of irritation about people who aren't key workers, or where only one parent is a key worker expecting school places, but not about single parent key workers or both parents key workers.

keep the Facebook-Chester-drawers-selling types obeying the rules.

The what??

@SaltyAF I have absolutely no issue at all with NHS workers accessing childcare. I don’t believe anyone has an issue with this.

But this post , and it’s framing, pissed me off , and I voted YABU.

Surely the bad feeling is linked to the fact that hospitals are over-run and we’re in danger of people dying because they can’t access treatment. If people send their kids in because they can, rather than because they genuinely have no other option the situation will get worse. 2 parents working full time days outside the house- no option really. There’s a lot of grey area with people wfh, whether NHS staff or another career of whether it’s inconvenient or impossible to have kids home. A lot of KS2 kids would be able to cope but younger than that probably not unless your employer is understanding. You won’t be able to please everyone, It’s a matter of personal conscience, if the school place is essential for you as a keyworker then your conscience is clear and nothing to do with anyone else