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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To disagree with NHS only petrol stations?

638 replies

pistachio20 · 27/09/2021 11:08

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?

OP posts:
Laughsaminute · 27/09/2021 11:29

Better solution would be to put £25 cap on purchases. Posters to remind people that they should only take what they need?

SylviaTrench · 27/09/2021 11:29

Personally I'd prioritise utility company workers over NHS staff, unless all the hospitals can actually run without electricity or water.
Power stations and water treatment plants are usually out of town, and run 24/7, so not always possible for the staff to use public transport.

Laughsaminute · 27/09/2021 11:33

Food production and logistics staff also really important. Once they start experiencing disruption, will be really difficult to get back up to speed before Christmas.

It’s a nightmare really. Couldn’t have happened at a worse time of year.

TartanJumper · 27/09/2021 11:33

Actually I agree.
A lot of NHS staff are 9-5 office roles who could easily make other arrangements.
Some will of course have a car they need for work, to get around their patients, or will be on weird shifts, but they will be far from the majority.
I do think emergency vehicles should get priority, but not staff.

FleasInMyKnees · 27/09/2021 11:33

How do buses get petrol, do they have their own petrol stations.

Etonmessisyum · 27/09/2021 11:34

Yeah loads of buses here at 5/6am I’d need to get 2. Takes an hour and a half to 2 hours then hope I get in on time for a 12 hour shift then 2 hours home after 40 min wait as ill miss the earlier one. So I’d get home at 2230/11pm to get up at 5am to catch the bus again. So no it’s not easier for shift workers to get public transport. In cities yes, I can imagine it is.

However I live in a smallish Scottish city. Drove kids to school - miles so can’t walk
Went home via 2 petrol stations
Both empty, both had fuel I just went to the first one I came to. I don’t agree with the nhs priority as there are many people who need to drive to work especially in rural areas. But midwives, district nurses, police, fire service, carers, supermarket workers, bank staff, teaching staff, we all keep the cogs turning so no one is really more important than anyone else here. But there should be a way to make sure this doesn’t happen again. I’m sure it’s more to do with greed and money as always

Rhubarbsoup · 27/09/2021 11:35

If everyone stopped being fucking ridiculous about this things would be back to normality soon.

fantasmasgoria1 · 27/09/2021 11:35

My Fiance can't get a bus to work. There is no direct bus and he starts work mostly before the buses start. Its way way to far to walk there. The job he does is not nhs but it's essential. He needs petrol to get to work. In any case there isn't a petrol shortage it's a shortage of tanker drivers. If people were sensible and didn't panic buy we would be fine. I disagree with NHS only but all essential workers would be better.

ThinkingAboutYou · 27/09/2021 11:36

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.

You have the worship of lot blocking the roads again, instead of worshipping in a meeting and not bothering the rest of us.

As has been pointed out the petrol station can't discriminate on the 9 protected characteristics, they can do their religion. I would find a petrol station that wasn't a NHS quasi religious zealot once this is over. Maybe someone can later sue the petrol station for lost income/life because they don't share their religion?

Wineiscooling · 27/09/2021 11:36

Community based nurse here, specialising in care of the dying. Half a tank left, usually do about 60 miles a day. Do I go on the priority list? I really hope those who have full tanks of petrol and no where essential to go don't have relatives who are dying at home and symptomatic with no district nurses, carers, GP or specialist teams available to visit as no petrol left. So yes, I do agree with NHS only petrol stations

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 27/09/2021 11:36

If it was prioritising all those in "key" industries that need their vehicle either for commute or for work, it would be fair.

But NHS admin worker vs Bin man for example... its not so clear cut.

Lots of people are equally important.

ThinkingAboutYou · 27/09/2021 11:37

I think if anyone is planning on sueing the petrol stations on beliefs the cake icing ruling is a good start.

Tibtom · 27/09/2021 11:39

What about police? Fire? Utility service workers (gas leak?!!)? Carers? Food producers?

What about fuel tanker drivers? Should they be able to get to work?

Becca19962014 · 27/09/2021 11:39

It should be the same rules as in July 2020. All essential workers, requiring access to car, were allowed fuel.

Proof of eligibility needed. It worked fine.

TartanJumper · 27/09/2021 11:39

@Wineiscooling

Community based nurse here, specialising in care of the dying. Half a tank left, usually do about 60 miles a day. Do I go on the priority list? I really hope those who have full tanks of petrol and no where essential to go don't have relatives who are dying at home and symptomatic with no district nurses, carers, GP or specialist teams available to visit as no petrol left. So yes, I do agree with NHS only petrol stations
In your situation yes, but you really think someone in an office from 9-5 should get priority over other key workers? The problem is, how do you differentiate between a nurse who works in a clinic/surgery 8-6 and could easily walk/bus home, and a community based nurse who really needs the petrol to get around?
Tibtom · 27/09/2021 11:41

@ThinkingAboutYou

I think if anyone is planning on sueing the petrol stations on beliefs the cake icing ruling is a good start.
Indeed, in that situation it was deemed that they hadn't refused to provide a cake - only refused to write the requested words. But insisting they write the requested words was forced speech and they couldn't require that.
saraclara · 27/09/2021 11:42

My aunt is going to need a district nurse going in twice a day when she's released from hospital. She is being kept in for an extra few days because they can't be certain that DNs will have petrol to do their rounds.

I'm not sure what the answer is though. My nurse daughter's tank is empty. She lives rurally and needs to leave home tomorrow at 06:30 for her 12.5 hour shift.

ZoBo123 · 27/09/2021 11:43

There are loads of other workers who provide essential services that also need fuel to work and can't work from home. How about a voucher system where you pay for and fill up with the amount of fuel you need for this week and then pay the same amount for the fuel you need the following week and can redeem it then. People who are filling up but don't actually need to use the fuel will only fill up a small amount so they don't pay double and those that need to drive will need it next week.

herecomesthsun · 27/09/2021 11:43

I'd hope that people would only use this if they really needed to go in to keep the service running

Sprostongreen21 · 27/09/2021 11:44

Emergency vehicles yes but us NHS staff are coping for enough shit thanks very much I don’t want another excuse to be shouted at while trying to work.

ThinkingAboutYou · 27/09/2021 11:44

Yep it's all about luxury beliefs virtue signaling, the way to stop it is not join in.

They want to worship the NHS like a God they can, they are refusing a service though and it may be breaking equality law. Not legally trained btw.

The earth worshipping lot blocking roads were taken to court.

They should keep the worshipping of their Gods to their quazi religion meetings and stop bothering the public.

mumwon · 27/09/2021 11:45

truck & bus & any public transport drivers on their way to work via car
often outside public transport time or whose work place is difficult to access
food workers (packers) pharmacists (often mobile these days going from shop to shop)
just a few others who should have access to fuel
I think restricting it to NHS is a bit narrow minded

BananaPB · 27/09/2021 11:45

I think other emergency services and carers should be in priority group too but I don't know if they have special passes. I think it's easier to say all NHS rather than have to work out of someone is in a job where they travel from client to client

Tibtom · 27/09/2021 11:46

The higher demand is only short term. Once everyone has filled their tanks demand will fall to reflect usage as it did before.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 27/09/2021 11:47

How do people think the bus and train drivers get to work for early shifts? Get public transport except that your driver couldn't get to work for a 4:30am start because they had no petrol.