To disagree with NHS only petrol stations?

[pistachio20]

Some petrol stations around me have now said that they are only allowing in NHS staff to refuel - apparently checking ID.

I find this completely ridiculous and unfair - not only because the majority of NHS staff where I live can easily get public transport to work (most who I know don’t drive to work anyway, and get train/bus anyway due to lack of free parking!).

So many crucial jobs require people to drive, let alone people with caring responsibilities, mobility issues, etc.

AIBU to think that it’s unfair?

@Eatdrinkbemerry

Since I filled up on Sunday I have walked to do my shop. Walked to my gym when I normally jump in the car. All we can do is hope that majority of people fill up and then maybe use it only when they can’t use public transport or walk etc.

WTF? I am sick of smug posts like this! ^

For a start, what was the point in you 'filling up' your car with petrol, if you intended to walk everywhere you needed to go after that?

Also, like some others on here, you seem to have this 'aren't I such an amazing human being for walking instead of using my car?! kind of bollocks going on. Bully for YOU if you can get where you need to be with no car. Not everyone can do that, and it doesn't make you special, or any better than other people who have to use their car!

@Joesmummy1

God forbid you or yours is calling an ambulance tonight in an emergency and there’s no crew or staff in ED to treat. It’d put your view that it should be a free for all to the test.

There should certainly be a limit on how much can be bought, but just restricting the purchase of fuel to NHS staff is absolutely idiotic. What if 'you or yours' had to drive themselves to hospital as an outpatient 3 times a week and couldn't get fuel because only NHS staff are allowed?

Malin52
👏👏

It would save several million journeys a day.

@BungleandGeorge

I see the OP hasn’t been back to tell us what company is actually doing this. It was on the news yesterday that some were considering only serving key workers. That’s all key workers though, and just a news story

Our local Tesco station (Kent) is only serving emergency services- I don't know if this is Tesco's policy, it's just what the person who turned me away told me.

Wholeheartedly agree with some of pp, end of the day you have a choice what job you do. So sick of the fucking loaning about how hard they work, how stressful it is, then thr emotional blackmail on top saying we'll if you need help one day...bs...its literally the job you signed up to do! If you don't like it go do another job!

Stop putting yourselves on pedestals cos the tide is turning and people are getting sick of having your hero identity shoved down their throats.

Just remember we pay your wages from our taxes so don't bite the hand that literally feeds you!

@AliceAbsolum

Jesus everyone is so obsessed with the nhs. I work for it and don't want special bloody treatment. Emergency service vehicles yes that's just sensible. An OT on his way to work as usual. No.

Daughter's a community midwife in a spread-out rural area. What's she supposed to do?

@AICM

It would save several million journeys a day.

I don't think your suggestion of shutting schools is going to go anywhere, I'd stop making a tit of myself if I were you.

"Daughter's a community midwife in a spread-out rural area. What's she supposed to do?"

Get in the queue with everyone else who needs to work perhaps?

@Shurl

Of course it isn't fair. But I'm sure my nhs-employed home-based non-clinician exMIL will be swanning up there with her pass for special treatment, just like she was at the supermarket last year.

For key front line staff,maybe. But surely that should also apply to teachers, carers, nursery staff and so on and so on. But then what about the single mother with a terminally I'll child who might need to be rushed to hospital at the last minute? Or the people who care for elderly parents so they don't need to be in the care system? Etc. We live in a society where atm most people need fuel. Few people drive for fun.

This country's worship of the NHS is just weird.

@Shurl . Exactly, I agree. Also agree on your point about your exMIL. I got so fed up last year hearing how so many of my FB NHS friends, working from home, were being double jabbed before my 91 year old mum!

My sister is a district nurse and has to visit people in their Homs, would you have her take the bus between each one carrying a car full of the equipment needed for different patients, it would be totally impossible. Also op if any of your family need the NHS wouldn’t you want them to be at work. Sorry but your post is totally unreasonable, have you forgotten their service and sacrifice during the pandemic!

@SweetBabyCheeses99

Are they checking ID before or after you fill up though? I presume it’s after when you pay at the till, in which case what are they going to do? Not let you pay for it? Make you suck it out the tank and spit it back? Call the petrol police and tell them they’ve sold petrol to the wrong person?!

They checked mine before I'd even put the nozzle in the car. When he asked if I was a Carer I was panicking like mad he was going to say I couldn't have any diesel. He just said there was a £15 limit for Carers. Another Garage refused point blank refused to serve me because quote ' I'm only a Carer' the thing that's worrying me now is that by the time I can fill my car up again on pay day I'm going to have the same problem

And will all the doctors, nurses etc be happy to work for free when the banking system grinds to a halt and what then happens when they can’t get hold of their money to pay for fuel anyway?

I don't think they would mind. They have no money anyway apparently 🤷🏻

I absolutely support NHS staff and am extremely grateful for their sacrifice. However, this is not fair and won't work. I'm a nursery nurse but if we can't go to work, we can't look after the children of NHS staff so then they can't go to work either!!!

I am sick of people locally saying that "people with kids" should get priority. Obviously being barren excludes you from being a useful and productive member of society.

No-one should get priority and people should stop being idiots and filling up £5 the minute they see an open garage

Depends on if you want your paramedics at work cause where I live they’re based in another county

@hangrylady

"Daughter's a community midwife in a spread-out rural area. What's she supposed to do?"

Get in the queue with everyone else who needs to work perhaps?

Yes true, screw the women in labour who benefit from having a trained healthcare professional before, during and after giving birth. Yes I do believe some jobs are more important for society than others.

I've just been to Morrison's to blow my tyres up. The pumps were coned off and every time a car came in, usually just to turn around and get out again, a woman yelled through a tannoy 'we are only serving staff members and emergency services'.

It was like something from a dystopian film but at the same time it was funny as she was relishing it so much and people weren't even trying to get any damn fuel.

@MyPatronusIsACat

I wasn’t trying to be smug. I was explaining what I have chosen to do. I don’t need anyone’s approval or questioning. I filled up and have decided to use my full tank very wisely as where I live (London) it is chaos and I don’t want to be queuing up for fuel every few days. If you think that’s me being smug then that’s your problem.

I am also not judging anyone for driving as you quite rightly said not everyone can walk to places. I also said that instead of attacking each other let’s recognise that the problem lies with the frenzy the media created and our government not being prepared.

In case you misread this let me be clear - everyone should do what works for them. Some will fill up like me and also wall where they can. Some will need to fill up and drive everywhere. Some don’t need to fill up so won’t. I judge nobody. I’m doing what works for me.

I think it's ridiculous. I live in Durham and have a job (I'm self-employed) I have to do in Northumberland on Thursday. Google says it's 1hr40 drive or...wait for it... 18.45hrs public transport.

I understand if it's doctors or nurses who commute from villages with no public transport, but any other NHS staff, how is it fair? I'm panicking about finding petrol otherwise I lose my income for the week

OTs, physios

OTs and Physios are often vital to discharging patients, linking them up to community services and rehab care teams, prescribing equipment, assessing mobility and falls risks and signing them off as fit for discharge.

There’s enough bed blocking as it is without Mrs Smith lingering on an acute ward waiting for the physio to bring her crutches and the OT to assess for and order her bath board. Meanwhile Mr. Jones is taking up another acute bed because the consultant wants his memory assessed by OT before discharge, and whether it’s safe for him to mobilise with portable oxygen. Ms X has been waiting 3 days for physio to come and do a stairs assessment etc etc.. oh and 5 patients on respiratory are waiting for chest physio.

And don’t forget the longer patients stay in hospital the more vulnerable they are to catching hospital acquired infections like pneumonia, c-diff, covid, MRSA.

Let’s not delay discharges on top of everything else!

@Wazzzzzzzup

And will all the doctors, nurses etc be happy to work for free when the banking system grinds to a halt and what then happens when they can’t get hold of their money to pay for fuel anyway?

I don't think they would mind. They have no money anyway apparently 🤷🏻

I work in payroll. It’s not quite as efficient but is a job that can easily be done from home to pay said nurses.

But the home carers can’t work from home. And the gas engineers can’t fix the gas leaks in places like hospitals & prisons.

If any sort of worker should have priority, it should be those who work to provide us food and power... because without those, we are fucked anyway. Every single person uses those things every day... not everyone is using the NHS. Hell, the NHS wont go far with no power either.

By the way, I think everyone's job is important.... to provide a service to someone else, and to keep a roof over your head. Everyone is a small cog in a big machine. All this job Top Trumps just causes division and arguments.

All of us could get buses, walk, taxi but it's more convenient. Also many are travelling in their cars for home care and on poor wages. I know some take advantage of this but they are more prioriy

@ExConstance

Fortunately the supply is not too bad in this part of the South West but in a nearby town a home carer was refused petrol because she was not "essential" Homecare services support the most vulnerable individuals in the community, some have low mobililty, need changing and hoisting, can't get food for themselves. It is so frustrating when the care sector does not get the recognition that the NHS gets and yet makes a huge contribution to the welfare of the frail and elderly.

Yes I was refused diesel too by one garage. Even when I told them I had nothing in my tank and still had around 40 miles to drive on my calls she just shrugged her shoulders at me. Thankfully I was able to put £15 in at Morrisons otherwise my car would've broken down. The annoying thing is I probably wasted more diesel that day going back and forth between house calls hoping that at some point the petrol stations would re open again