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.

Aside to the original post, my local Facebook has seen the reappearance of people looking for tyres fixed, cars valeted etc who find the need to mention they are key workers. I'm presuming they're looking for a discount or freebie. It's also used to justify why they were out shopping but everyone else in the supermarket was on a jolly. I'd like to know why they don't say their actual job- does the KW thing make them feel very important or something? Incidentally I am technically a key worker (school) but I'd never describe myself as one unless it was relevant.

I think it's great when shops and other outlets offer 10% off for nhs workers. Also good if you've got a friend working in front line services of any kind and you spontaneously send something cheering round, like food, flowers or other little luxuries. Gives someone you appreciate a real lift. But coming on a site to ask for stuff? Never heard of this and if they've named the ward or provider they work for I don't think their managers would approve.

YANBU. I'm an NHS domestic and every single ward I've ever worked on has had big pump bottles of hand cream available. If there isn't any you can request it as it's an infection control hazard to have cracked hands. We all get our hands checked by the training supervisor once a year so that any skin issues can be forwarded to occupational health so that we can be provided with treatment, alternative hand cream, gloves or soap etc. We're also encouraged to report any issues with the skin on our hands to our supervisor if something flares up between those checks.

Of course people working in the NHS are having a tough time at work, my job has been 10x more stressful in the last year and that'll be the same for nurses whose jobs were already stressful to begin with but we are incredibly lucky to have our jobs and such amazing job security. We don't need to worry about being made redundant, so many others don't have that luxury. And NHS staff are far from the only people to be having a difficult time at work. Anyone working with the public during this pandemic will be fearing for their health/ the health of their families. It's lovely when companies offer gifts and discounts to NHS staff but I just think begging for freebies is in such bad taste when there are people who are worried about feeding their families and keeping a roof over their heads.

@coldwaterfeed

*Vaseline hand cream ad

That ad makes me really cross. The doctor/nurse saying "I was washing my hands after every patient." Like it's something to be praised for and not just basic hygiene practice. Did he not wash his hands between patients before Covid????

@Indecisive12

It’s also available in pumps in almost all clinical areas.

The pumps are empty half the time. Since we have had to increase constant hand washing I don’t see why you would begrudge hand cream. Most cheap hand creams are no good or full of perfume.

To buy a decent hand cream such as “hand hemp” from the body shop isn’t that cheap tbh.

Have you not got bigger things to worry about than hand cream OP? FGS!

I'm an HCA and I would never ask for freebies how embarrassing!!

I worked for the NHS for many years and I’m shocked and disappointed that people are doing this ‘ begging’. The staff aren’t badly paid and surely they can afford a tube of hand cream each? Awful behaviour.

I think the difference is the asking for free things rather than the grateful acceptance of donated items. I’d have absolutely no issue with the latter, however touting for free stuff is just really poor taste.

I am self employed and have a small business making sportswear. Our business is on its knees as clubs are closed and competitions are cancelled, I don’t know how much longer we can keep going. Since the first week of lockdown I’ve had a steady stream of requests for freebies for nhs staff ‘because my daughter is bored at home and a new leotard would make her happy’ etc etc etc. I’ve seen other small businesses experiencing the same - from ‘period pants’ (did nurses not cope with periods during shifts before?) to toiletries to cake makers to scented candle makers.

And back when we were queueing to get in the supermarkets, watching people who work from home doing nhs admin jobs flash their badges to walk past the queue - one woman I know had actually left the nhs but was doing this.

Got a few friends in NHS they are embarrassed by freebies, can't stand clapping , only 1 uses priority shopping and sends kids to school when they have no choice not because they can.

Genuine question - how much is a nurse paid? Not a trainee, just a standard nurse?
The narrative is always that they are badly paid and deserve big pay rises, but i don't actually know what their pay is!

A band 5 nurse outside of London would max out at about £28k before shift allowances.

But remember, they pay student loan on that now, and 6-9% pension conts which they didn’t when this level of pay was set.

This time round, I'm really disappointed by families in our school who only have one parent working in the NHS and another parent who is working or staying at home but have sent their children in, due to laxer guidelines. They weren't eligible last time. It's like they think it's an employee benefit whereas we should all be trying to stop the spread as much as we can. Not one staff member in my school has sent their dcs to school because they don't want to over burden schools.
Also, it's a bit nerve wracking when you are working with dcs who you know have a parent on the frontline but you can't wear PPE and you're not at the front of the queue for the vaccine (unlike my GP neighbour who has barely seen anyone in person since March).

YANBU! Completely agree.

From all taht talks I thought they are on 13k....

@Katyppp I have a good friend who is an A and E nurse in London, band 6 and she is on 40K (couple of hundred pounds short) - she's early 30s. She does pay her professional registration fee and pension (as many professions have to), but she does also get discounted hospital accomodation.

She deserves every penny and every perk to be honest, and definitely isn't running around complaining about her salary.

I honestly think it casts aspersions on the integrity of someone’s character if they run around asking for free stuff just because they work for the NHS.

It might be because I work in MH and we are responsible for some very vulnerable people, and I honestly cannot imagine any of my colleagues acting like this. It’s just smacks of a lack of ethics and professional probity. Really doesn’t sit right at all.

I think it's totally unnecessary but so are the pictures of businesses handing over freebies.

YANBU. There was a plea for food for the poor nurses and doctors working in one of my local hospitals. The same hospital that has a large staff canteen. I thought it was really crass considering the food bank use has gone up over 300% here.

Definitely not being unreasonable.

I've got loads of hand cream my mam and grandma often buy me little sets as well as other presents or give me money for Christmas. So actually I'd give a few tubes to this cause rather than just taking years to get through it.

We’re they just seeing if a friend could drop them in? Or drive them to their visits if community, so the patients still got their needs met and it didn’t effect patient safety, whilst the car was being fixed?

YANBU. I have also seen this and think it’s grabby. But also inconsiderate and lacking in thought towards those who are struggling in other ways especially financially and have lost jobs and income. There is not only one way to suffer in this pandemic and NHS staff should not be making others feel guilty and that have to buy niceties for them.

@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.

Have a snickers, is it REALLY worth being riled if you are honest?

If so, why? Do you not have anything more important to use your energy for but to belittle someone else that is asking kindly for some handcream, its not like shes asking for some Euros to spend when she eventually goes on holiday is she..

Let it go, lifes too short to stress about the little things and this isnt even a little thing..