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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:
bozzabollix · 28/09/2021 19:18

When my ITU doctor husband is on call and needs to go in at 3am I’ll get him to look at the bus times shall I? We live rurally, he might arrive several hours later.

I was one of those arseholes in the Thursday queues, pleased I did it, he can definitely get into work for a while now. It is life and death.

hangrylady · 28/09/2021 19:20

"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."

Yeah and fuck my elderly father who needs to drive to the hospital 3 times a week for dialysis to keep him alive. He's not a key worker, not even any worker as he's retired but tough shit, only NHS workers need fuel.

AICM · 28/09/2021 19:23

Strange how the thought of closing schools is utterly unacceptable yet at the same time the thought of prioritising teachers so they can keep the schools open is also unacceptable.

Redlocks28 · 28/09/2021 19:24

It’s not going to help the NHS staff get to work, if the teachers can’t get in so there’s nobody to look after their kids.

Spodge · 28/09/2021 19:27

@hangrylady

"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."

Yeah and fuck my elderly father who needs to drive to the hospital 3 times a week for dialysis to keep him alive. He's not a key worker, not even any worker as he's retired but tough shit, only NHS workers need fuel.

And fuck my friend who needs daily radiotherapy and has to drive to hospital.

Also, should we be banging our saucepans for the petrol stations that serve only the NHS workers?

leannetta · 28/09/2021 19:30

Lorry drivers should be first in the queue for fuel. If they can’t get to work to drive the food to stores and the fuel to the forecourts we’re all stuffed and no one’s getting fuel…

How about instead of a cap on the amount of fuel - having a minimum amount that you have to pay for. That way people will only queue if they genuinely need it. Maybe the government could put forward a temporary scheme whereby essential workers get discounted taxi fares. And then add taxi drivers to the essential fuel requirers!

Most people really need fuel in some way. It’s impossible to differentiate who needs it most.

hangrylady · 28/09/2021 19:31

"And fuck my friend who needs daily radiotherapy and has to drive to hospital.

Also, should we be banging our saucepans for the petrol stations that serve only the NHS workers?"

It would not surprise me in the slightest. I hope your friend is able to get to her appointments.

Bideshi · 28/09/2021 19:34

@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?

No that's not my point.

She gets in her NHS car and does 800-1200 miles a week going to people's homes. See? She needs petrol to do her job. And if she can't do her job, her pregnant women and women who have just given birth do not get the care they need. The NHS do not provide her with petrol to do her job. She has to fill ups her car herself. Get it now?

XenoBitch · 28/09/2021 19:34

@leannetta

Lorry drivers should be first in the queue for fuel. If they can’t get to work to drive the food to stores and the fuel to the forecourts we’re all stuffed and no one’s getting fuel…

How about instead of a cap on the amount of fuel - having a minimum amount that you have to pay for. That way people will only queue if they genuinely need it. Maybe the government could put forward a temporary scheme whereby essential workers get discounted taxi fares. And then add taxi drivers to the essential fuel requirers!

Most people really need fuel in some way. It’s impossible to differentiate who needs it most.

I have seen a few people suggest a minimum spend (including a whole thread on it where OP was rightly handed her arse).

Many people live pay check to pay check. I have a friend who can only afford to put £15 per week into his car. A minimum spend is also going to be a big middle finger up to anyone on a motorcycle too. And people who finally ran out of fuel and have had to walk to a petrol station with a jerry can so they can get back on the road.

A maximum is better, with that maximum amount depending on the capacity of your vehicle (one of my local fuel stations is doing this).

HopingForOurRainbowBaby · 28/09/2021 19:38

@wolfstarling

How about each petrol station has someone to check as you enter if you have less than 1/4 tank you can fill up if your over off you go. That would stop the false panickers who are just keeping topped up and allow everyone who needs it to get filled. It would stop all the queues instantly

I agree an easy solution.

Yeah that's what my Fella said
Explosivefarts · 28/09/2021 19:40

@hangrylady

"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."

Yeah and fuck my elderly father who needs to drive to the hospital 3 times a week for dialysis to keep him alive. He's not a key worker, not even any worker as he's retired but tough shit, only NHS workers need fuel.

Yes and fuck the elderly relative I am unpaid carer for. She can lie in her bed in her own filth for days and not get the medication she needs to live . But sure again only NHS workers need fuel
Treesandsheepeverywhere · 28/09/2021 19:52

Yes and No but that's because it will be easuly used by NHS workers who are working from home, on long fake sick leave and to fill up their friends & relatives cars. My husband works in a mental hospital where most of the staff won't come in due to covidas they "don't feel safe".
They're working from home yet were the first to claim all the NHS discounts during lockdown. My husband has been going in everyday and doesn't drive. The idea is good but flawed.

eminthebigsmoke · 28/09/2021 19:55

I thought they were talking about priority times for NHS staff like they did with supermarkets, sounded sensible to me.

bigginswiggins · 28/09/2021 19:56

BJ just ruled out NHS priority.

I hope you all have kept your first aid courses up to date.

ColorMagicBarbie · 28/09/2021 19:56

I had to go and fill up some of our wagons today. Reasonable queues but haven't struggled to be fuel yet. The services have separate supplies for HGV and general public. The normal fuel had run out at most of the motorway services but they still had HGV fuel. Felt good whopping 250L in the tank.

bigginswiggins · 28/09/2021 19:58

So I guess you also need to stop with the outraged 'guess what happened to me in A&E' posts as well BJ thinks A&E is as important as the local coffee shop.

XenoBitch · 28/09/2021 20:00

@bigginswiggins

BJ just ruled out NHS priority.

I hope you all have kept your first aid courses up to date.

I would rather the people getting power to our homes had priority, if anyone. No power = no hospitals.
Wazzzzzzzup · 28/09/2021 20:02

@bigginswiggins

So I guess you also need to stop with the outraged 'guess what happened to me in A&E' posts as well BJ thinks A&E is as important as the local coffee shop.
Oh fuck off. It's as important as power, water, connections, public transport, food providers, deliveries (not just to people but to shops etc), carers, vets, transport in general, foreman, police, car repairs, building works, and many more. Not like NHS worked properly anyway
Explosivefarts · 28/09/2021 20:02

Glad Boris has spoken sense for the once. No matter how much NHS workers think they trump everyone else

itsgettingwierd · 28/09/2021 20:02

Only 1 near us is doing this.

The Tesco which is probably about 1km from the hospital.

I agree with it.

There are plenty of other prettily stations around but this one being nearest to the hospital it makes sense.

But I may be bias as my mum has chemo there weekly and my priority is her being able to have this done!

hangrylady · 28/09/2021 20:09

No that's not my point.

She gets in her NHS car and does 800-1200 miles a week going to people's homes. See? She needs petrol to do her job. And if she can't do her job, her pregnant women and women who have just given birth do not get the care they need. The NHS do not provide her with petrol to do her job. She has to fill ups her car herself. Get it now?

I get it and nobody is saying that her job isn't vital and of course she should be able to buy fuel. if you read my previous comments I have said that there should be a limit applied so that everyone can get what they need. What about patients who need to drive themselves to hospital? Myself and another poster have given examples of dialysis patents and cancer patients. They don't work for the NHS so if only NHS workers are allowed to buy fuel, which is what this thread is about, then these patients could not get to hospital to have treatment. Get it now??

Dudewheresmypetrol · 28/09/2021 20:11

@Explosivefarts

Glad Boris has spoken sense for the once. No matter how much NHS workers think they trump everyone else
I haven't met any who think that. But I know a lot who are worried about not being able to get in and look after their patients and vulnerable people. Because the conditions are crap as is pay, most people who work for the NHS do so as they want to help people, and when they can't it's hard.
Explosivefarts · 28/09/2021 20:21

@Dudewheresmypetrol and the NHS are not the only ones out there who are relied on by vulnerable members of society . Like myself as an unpaid carer. Who save the NHS billions every year providing round the clock care for loved ones. As i said give the NHS all the Petrol and my relative can sit in her own soil all day and die of starvation or maybe not taking her medicine will get her first . NHS are not the only ones needing petrol . As much as they think the world revolves around them .

FrozenWillow · 28/09/2021 20:25

YABU

Pray that you never need the NHS. If you need a community nurse or community midwife, how are they going to assist you at your home without fuel in their car?

Ploorfuzzle · 28/09/2021 20:25

I don't see any entitlement from NHS staff either, most are embarrassed when stuff like this is suggested, and know the inevitable backlash that will follow from people even though they were nothing to do with putting forward the idea of having priority! I honestly don't know why anyone bothers to work for them with the hatred, bitterness, and bile people seem to have towards them! Go private and get those £££s, the same people who seem to take glee in berating them can enjoy spending loads of money to access any sort of care.