Key workers

[MiniElvis]

This is no way a dig at key workers.

My local garage is letting key workers have priority and do not gave to queue to get petrol.
I am a on call veterinary surgeon tonight and got a phone call earlier regarding a young dog who has been hit by a fast moving car. My veterinary nurse was covering at the surgery but felt that this poor dog needed more specialist care then what she can give. Tried to get petrol on way as virtually none left and was told that I wasn’t a key worker even though I explained the situation had my royal veterinary college Id but was told no.
I have worked throughout the pandemic and haven’t given it a second thought when someone has rushed they animal through the door to us and sat in the same room literally 2/3 feet away with only wearing masks so they could spend the last moments with they animals.
AIBU to expect to be given some priority to getting petrol.

My husband works in a psychiatric role partly in the community and partly in prison, I lead a multi agency specialist public protection team working with high risk sexual and violent offending, we've worked throughout. We queued for petrol today because we need it to get to work tomorrow. YABU.

It's rubbish that the current panic buying situation is creating this. 'Key worker' is often a very broad term, which has included vets at some point at least I think.

No, as an NHS worker who needs my car to travel between patients, I agree you should be considered a key worker. People who worked in a fixed location between normal hours are considered key workers and a lot can easily get public transport to work. I would want you to be able to attend to my dog in an emergency overnight.

Of course you’re a key worker

kingdomscrolls would you be happy to let your animal die in this situation.
I would’ve sat and got petrol if I hadn’t already done a 10 hour day to then finally get in bed to be called out again.
I will happily sit in a queue tomorrow on my day off and I am now spending tonight in the surgery as I know if any further emergencies come in I haven’t got to worry about not getting here.

I'd say you're a key worker and the garage is at fault for placing a 'key worker priority' on its pumps.

I read earlier someone has treatment for cancer everyday this week and all their pumps are empty. I'd say her car getting fuel is also a priority

The world and his wife are key workers these days, I say that from a household full of them, if keyworkers can jump the queue for petrol that would be a large proportion of people, rendering it pointless.

@MiniElvis if DH and I don't do our jobs people die. We still had to queue for petrol to get to work. If you were driving an ambulance yes you should jump the queue. Other than that loss of people do very important jobs, or would become carnage trying to create a hierarchy of petrol need.

Key worker her.
It's getting a bit much with other key workers constantly bleating on about being a key worker.

We all have lives to live, jobs to get to. It's beyond boring

There are so few jobs that aren't classed as key workers. It's become a pointless phrase.

You are not being unreasonable. Animal welfare is always important, but those who don’t care much for animals probably won’t see it like that. I hope you had enough fuel travel to help the poor dog.

I absolutely hate the word keyworker. It’s so overused now.

I think the person who denied you priority is an utter selfish arse. Would they have let the person who works on the till at Tesco priority tonight so that they’re ready for the morning? It’s all so bloody stupid.

I’m so sick of this me, me, me attitude that so many people in this country have now adopted. We wouldn’t be in this situation if people weren’t so bloody selfish and used a bit of common sense.

Also hating the keyworker distinction. Our nearest hospital overnight is 40 minutes away (local one closes at 6pm!) My neighbours have a sick child and I'd like them to have priority for petrol too, despite not being keyworkers.

But yes, I'd like you to attend my dog if needed. Your garage obviously has their own opinions on who is deserving and important enough.

Of course you are a key worker. You are in a medical profession. Animals have medical emergencies too!

There is also legislation about animal welfare and not allowing them to suffer by not getting prompt veterinary care.

The garage are talking bollocks, and have probably too narrow a definition of what constitutes a key worker. They probably think it is only doctors, nurses (not veterinary ones), paramedics and ambulance drivers. It isn't.

Panic buying is extremely selfish. It has been beyond ridiculous here with the queue for our local fuel station causing a huge traffic jam out along the road towards the next town.

However, there is nothing more guaranteed to incite panic than the government telling people not to panic!

The media has much to answer for too, including social media.