AIBU re hospital staff begging for freebies on social media?

[Biscoffaddict]

I’m fully prepared to get flamed for this, and I want to say I really do appreciate everything NHS staff are doing at the moment, but I can’t help but feel it’s a bit grabby and entitled to be asking for freebies on social media. The post in question was from a HCA who was asking for hand cream for their ‘poor sore hands’. She tagged about twenty colleagues in the post and also named the ward in question (not ICU).

It would be understandable if there was nowhere open to get hand cream from but it’s sold in Boots, Superdrug, all supermarkets and online. Very cheaply available as well, which is why this seems really grabby, entitled and a bit unprofessional if I’m honest. Lots of body shop and Avon reps have been tagged in the post and no doubt they’ll feel pressured into donating stuff and meeting the cost themselves (I’ve done Avon in the past and know how it all works).

For some reason this has really rubbed me up the wrong way. But like Ive said I’m prepared to be told I’m out of order.

Better tell my wife next time she is work, not to take the free Chinese or Indian that gets delivered everyweekend night shift to ICU for free by local takeaways!

@Hotelhelp

100% with you OP.

Also seen posts like ‘my car has broke down and I need to get to work (on the front line as a nurse)’ ... so you want your car fixed for free basically yea?

My local Facebook page had a few of these but with the added “I’m a Keyworker” for the added bit of gaining sympathy. This was back in the first lockdown though, have seen it again YET!

@Bookriddle

Better tell my wife next time she is work, not to take the free Chinese or Indian that gets delivered everyweekend night shift to ICU for free by local takeaways!

Did they shame the takeaways into it by tagging them on SM to get it (because who can say no then...)? If not, than it's a gift freely given, and lovely and they should enjoy it

[quote GlobeUs]@BungleandGeorge - NHS staff should have always been doing that in ITU areas though for infection control. Did the NHS provide hand cream before? (Honestly I don't know the answer to that, and yes I do understand they are seeing more patients now...)

But I haven't seen other professions asking for hand cream - care workers for instance...[/quote]
No, hand cream isn’t supplied as standard usually. Yes it’s always been standard to wash hands before and after patients in all areas but the number of patient contacts and the amount of hours being worked has vastly increased. Hands are not designed for constant washing so it’s an ongoing issue. Carers and community staff- carers, GPs etc spend longer with each person in general so it’s not so bad. I do feel handcream is a very basic amenity for hospital staff that should be provided. The Avon type perfumed ones are really no good if you need a heavy moisturiser anyway, they sting like crazy! I think it’s really poor that any staff are having to ask for soap/ handcream or buy it themselves

@BungleandGeorge Ok, thanks for taking the time to explain all that.

I can see where you are coming from and yes, now it's explained it should be provided (though I still don't feel they should be asking it on facbeook).

@globe I don't work on the covid wards but I am a HCP. Everyone has had a tough time, some people more than others. I tend to disagree with you though. On top of what everyone else has gone through many medical workers will have dealt with additional trauma that we cannot imagine. It's not a competition you're right but please don't trivialise what they have been through so that many others can stay safe. In the first wave these people went into work with an unknown virus with unknown risks and many died. As for the isolation, I never see my colleagues anymore as we are not allowed to meet up. Cafes within the hospital have had their tables removed so there is nowhere to eat and I suspect it's similar to most work places. As for HR, mostly offsite and unhelpful in my experience.

However I think this is a non issue if that is all you have to be worried about you are very lucky.

From what specific details did you extrapolate that the OP is a) worried about this; and b) has only this single specific issue to worry about in the entirety of her existence?

I am not trivializing - in fact the fact you say I am trivializing when I am pointing out that other people have also done things such as "In the first wave these people went into work with an unknown virus with unknown risks and many died. "

Just demonstrates what I am saying - many people have dealt with additional trauma that they cannot imagine - stating that is not trivializing what anyone is going through. It is an acceptance that the trauma of the pandemic has far reaching consquences beyond the boundaries of NHS employment.

AND, NHS workers really need to start realising this, accepting this and stop accusing people of trivialising when it's raised because ultimately, the NHS is going to be picking up the pieces for not only their own staff, but others within population who are not NHS, and quite frankly, the attitudes that are displayed where it's stated it's NHS trauma only are already starting to cause a divide and disregard between the NHS and the public.

As for HR, mostly offsite and unhelpful in my experience.

That is really bloody shit though, and should not be happening at this time (i mean the offshite but maybe acceptable, but the unhelpful bit not at all...)

@contrmary

YANBU. In my role I'm not allowed to ask for or accept gifts on the basis I do job x/y/z - I thought that was a pretty standard clause in employment contracts.

Yep, when I was working in NHS MH the patients would often want to give gifts. We were allowed to accept them so as not to offend generous people. But the policy was absolutely rigid that we had to take any gift straight to the boss, declare it, log it and we had to tell the patient this too; thank them and say that we would not be able to keep it for ourselves and we would share it. We then gave the presents to Mind (charity) for their fundraising and any cash we were given was split among MH charities. I don’t know how rigidly these things are enforced on wards but I am sure they don’t want public “grabby” behaviour that might appear to come from the NHS in general. Accepting gifts has a tendency to bite you on the arse later - just an example; I remember one GP I worked with (years ago) who accepted very generous crates of champagne from a patient and other (conditional) gifts. The patient then expected to jump queues and have a personal line to the GP at all times. If he was still around now he’d probably expect the GP to give him the vaccine first. The GP compromised himself.

I remember one GP I worked with (years ago) who accepted very generous crates of champagne from a patient and other (conditional) gifts.

Holy hell, were they removed from the practice (the patient?)

[quote GlobeUs]@BungleandGeorge Ok, thanks for taking the time to explain all that.

I can see where you are coming from and yes, now it's explained it should be provided (though I still don't feel they should be asking it on facbeook).[/quote]
I think the vast majority of people agree with you whether they’re HCP or not, personally I think these people should be reported to their employer as it’s simply not allowed. The reason it’s not allowed is partly because people lose respect for staff and it can easily turn into bribery with people effectively advertising their business of the back of it. It’s wrong in so many respects

@GlobeUs I shouldn’t think so! I stopped working there so I don’t know. The GP was the senior partner so he did what he liked and was from a different era. It probably caused more problems for the receptionists who had to manage the demands from the “paying” patient. Times have changed on the whole I think which is a very good thing.

This is embarrassing to me as a HCP

We have been donated a lot recently and it is all appreciated. But asking for things like this isn’t right. Yes all the hand washing gives you dermatitis but hand cream is often supplied in clinical areas and also you can buy it yourself. Also lots of other jobs have a similar effect on the skin.

As for HR, mostly offsite and unhelpful in my experience.

I’m NHS HR. Currently working just 12-14 hour days to support my frontline colleagues/workforce plan. My team are flat out doing the same and frankly, shitting miracles.

What are your HR not doing that you need, exactly? I’m getting a bit sick of the unreasonable expectations being put on us now. This week alone it’s been intimated that I should personally know where every bit of IT kit is (not sure why they don’t think that’s IT’s role), step in for IPC in numerous situations and be able to book every staff member, their extended families, hairdressers, mechanics and so on in for their vaccines. WTF?! 🤯

Gosh. 3:40pm. Might just go get some breakfast.

Hi, I still don't think working on the ICU or the covid wards is the same as most jobs. I believe they put themselves in a situation most of us don't including me. Anyway to get back to the thread, NHS workers should not be asking for freebies. If offered, it's greatly appreciated though.

YANBU

I was selling a sofa in summer... £50 for a 2-year-old M&S leather sofa, so a really good deal for someone .. and got a text from a lady saying I should give it to her for free as she was an NHS nurse. Oh, and could I drop it round as she didn't have a big enough car.

I have a couple of friends who are frontline nurses and they were appalled. It's a shame a few tarnish the uniform.

@wink1970 it's a few who are behaving in this way I agree. As opposed to government ministers who seem to be giving many contracts or business to friends and party donors.

Hasn't Nivea donated thousands of pounds worth of hand cream etc to the NHS?

Agree. It is unprofessional. Hand cream is readily available. Times are hard for us all. If someone wanted to donate hand cream fair enough but to ask is not professional

I think these people should be reported to their workplace. I'm sure there is a fundraiser whose job it is to make requests, but it's not up to someone to ask for freebies like this.

I make baby clothes to sell online and have had quite a few people claiming to be NHS workers asking for sizeable discounts. I don't respond - my DHs income has been hit massively by covid - and we weren't rich to start with 🙄 why would I spend my time making something for nothing, for people I don't know? (and whose income has probably been stable throughout this whole shit-show!)

Saying that, they might not even work for the NHS and just be chancers - though one, who claimed she hadn't received her parcel so was given a refund most definitely did as it was listed on her FB (where she also posted photos of her baby wearing the outfit she'd claimed hadn't arrived 😐)

CF's in all walks of life I suppose! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Saying that, they might not even work for the NHS and just be chancers - though one, who claimed she hadn't received her parcel so was given a refund most definitely did as it was listed on her FB (where she also posted photos of her baby wearing the outfit she'd claimed hadn't arrived 😐)

Can’t you report that as theft if you have evidence?

My local Tesco has a basket on the way out asking for donations of hand cream for NHS staff so it’s definitely not just MLM trying to up their sales.

It’s actually hand cream and toiletries they are asking for.