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?

It might be more 'ironic' if injured and ill tanker drivers miss work due to unavailability of timely treatment.

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.

@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.

This. There's many people this covers, admin, IT etc. That's just stupid. Ambulances etc obviously that makes sense, but people who don't save lives? No.

I'm beginning to think the government are playing a game of how stupid can the public be. So far they are winning 2-0.

pretty sure you would be annoyed if your bin was collected

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude

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.

Yes, this.

I remember the fuel blockades in 2000. The idiots blockading the fuel depots would stand by the gates cheering as they graciously allowed tankers to exit with signs saying ‘for the emergency services’ on the front of the cab.

Of course, it never occurred to them that emergency services vehicles need to be manned by, er, people. Who need to get to work. Including on buses and trains, whose drivers also need to get to work.

@Staryflight445

Community nurses, midwifes, mental health teams all need to be able to drive around op.

But so do carers, teachers, supermarket staff, bus drivers, train drivers etc

Of course some NHS workers need fuel, but so do lots of other people - how many of those people that are getting special treatment at these petrol stations will even be able to go to work if schools shut down because teachers can't get there?

I’m due to have an operation this week. There is a chance I have cancer and this operation is mainly to find out if I do or not. I don’t want my operation cancelled due to staff not being able to go to work.

yes because the thousands of home carers can take buses and trains to their patients house lol

@Viviennemary I find your comments very upsetting.
The nhs is on its knees they we are severely short staffed and underfunded but are still expected to carry as normal. Picking up extra shifts to cover due to the huge amount of sickness. We not only still have all the covid restrictions in place we now have A and Es that are full to burst and queues of ambulances outside waiting to drop off more patients. The GPs are still not seeing patients so where else do these people go.
There are nurses who need to use food banks because hey cannot afford to feed their families it is DISGUSTING!

We are trusted with people’s lives, gone to university for 3/4 years got ourselves into debt in order to help other people.
They’re are no bursaries to help anymore the government got rid of those it’s take a student loan and get in with it. Then work like a dog for years to pay it off.
But when you need us and one day YOU will need us we will be there for you and we will smile, and reassure you. Run all the tests and scans you need for no payment and very little thanks from the government or higher management.
No one joins the NHS to get rich, we do it because we like working with people and we want to help them when they need it the most.

@Staryflight445

Community nurses, midwifes, mental health teams all need to be able to drive around op.

There are many doing those jobs or of a similar ilk that are not employed by the NHS.

How about “Petrol only for NHS and for MN users who live very rurally (self declared), run a mum bus (inspected), and have expensive events booked for the weekend (tickets will be checked)?”

I work as a home carer. I work for the local authority so I have NSH on my badge. 3 of my friends di the exact same job but for private companies.

I don't need fuel more then they do!

So an admin worker for the NHS who can easily take public transport has priority whilst a community carer who needs a vehicle to access her client base can't? Fucking ridiculous and I am sick to death of this worship of the NHS

[quote iusedtoloveopalfruits1]@Viviennemary I find your comments very upsetting.
The nhs is on its knees they we are severely short staffed and underfunded but are still expected to carry as normal. Picking up extra shifts to cover due to the huge amount of sickness. We not only still have all the covid restrictions in place we now have A and Es that are full to burst and queues of ambulances outside waiting to drop off more patients. The GPs are still not seeing patients so where else do these people go.
There are nurses who need to use food banks because hey cannot afford to feed their families it is DISGUSTING!

We are trusted with people’s lives, gone to university for 3/4 years got ourselves into debt in order to help other people.
They’re are no bursaries to help anymore the government got rid of those it’s take a student loan and get in with it. Then work like a dog for years to pay it off.
But when you need us and one day YOU will need us we will be there for you and we will smile, and reassure you. Run all the tests and scans you need for no payment and very little thanks from the government or higher management.
No one joins the NHS to get rich, we do it because we like working with people and we want to help them when they need it the most.[/quote]
Your not underfunded your funding is mismanaged!

As you say GPS aren't doing their but so your workload is increasing so go start s protest and complain about them, its not the general publics fault here if GPs are refusing to work properly. I mean these GPs get paid by the NHS so wtaf are they doing by not providing a proper service.

@WormYourHonour

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

Of the NHS people, by your decree, can get buses, why can't everyone else?

Maybe because public transport stops outside hospitals and drs surgeries. Often home carers have to travel significant distances in residential areas that aren't always connected by public transport.

In THEORY I wouldn’t mind it being key workers only (for work purposes!) but that would be NHS who can’t work from home (not all NHS), teachers, carers, any emergency services, supermarket workers etc.. You would have a list as long as your arm and it’s ridiculous that it would be up to the people working at the petrol station to check.
My neighbour is a doctor so I guess she’s get priority however she takes the tube to work and uses the car for dropping DC at school on the days she doesn’t have her shifts when they can easily walk. So many people use cars unnecessarily and it’s impossible to police it.

Can I just say in defence of GP's, DH rang this morning regarding ds, spoke to the GP and had a f2f booked for a couple of hours after the call.

I do remember the fuel blockade of 2000 resulted in NHS staff getting priority. I don't remember anyone having had a problem with this at the time and nor do I now, in principle.

However, I hate the way the NHS is currently used as a distraction tool in this whole pandemic/Brexit saga. Everytime something goes wrong, we get 'oh, but we'll do this for the NHS...' I am starting to feel as if the government just uses that acronym to shut us all up moaning about what a fiasco this has become.

@OhGiveUp

There are a lot of employees of other sectors whose employment is just as important as NHS employees. Off the top of my head I can think of.... Care / support workers Police officers Prison officers Firefighters Funeral services Refuse collectors Teachers / teaching support staff Breakdown services HGV drivers Bus drivers Train drivers

Supermarket workers? The forgotten sidelined employees of the pandemic and now if they can't get to work the supermarket doors will be closed or more panic buying ensues.

As everyone clapped for the NHS a year ago supermarket workers quietly got on with a horrid job coming into contact with everyone, being the highest impacted by covid, lower paid than anyone in the NHS, never clapped for, never thought of. Criticised by everyone for queues, spat on, screamed at for empty shelves, reached over when filling shelves by morons and having to deal with shit for brains people generally. Never given a moments thought when it comes to any benefits and yet when most of us didn't need NHS medical help we all used a supermarket and every damn one of those people put their health on the line just to open tillls so people could buy food.
Need petrol to get to work? No. Back of the line.

Can I just say that most of us who work in the NHS who don’t need fuel (ie we can wfh) wouldn’t actually take advantage anyway. We’d want to leave it for those who absolutely need it.... because we see the consequences on services first hand.

Also the average person who choses to work in the NHS does so because they care about society. I’m not saying everyone is like this, obviously some will abuse the offer, but a lot of people like me wouldn’t abuse this offer to NHS staff.

Also stop being so horrible about NHS staff. Many didn’t want the clapping anyway. Have some bloody respect! Those who ‘back office admin roles’ do vital work and services wouldn’t be able to function/ improve efficiency and get through waiting lists without them.

Yes I agree, bin men, carers, nursery staff, teachers etc all have greater need to access fuel than many NHS back office staff. I think you’d find that most NHS admin staff would agree!!

When I go into labour in the next few weeks, I would prefer to be taken to hospital in a car rather than having to catch the bus.

I think it would be better to leave ambulances for people who have a true medical emergency.

I’m not saying she shouldn’t be able to drive to school during normal times btw - she’s paid for her car, she pays road tax, she pays for the petrol .. it’s her call. But during this short term crisis people should be only driving if they have to.. but you can’t police that and it’s not up to people who work in petrol stations to have to try.

@Feilin

Buses and trains dont always run at the times we nhs staff need to be in work for so forgive us for needing to use cars . I'll raise it with our trust that perhaps they need to provide us with bicycles or at the very least horses . Maybe that would suit you better.

and the same for other jobs - which if people dont do they dont get paid, and lose their jobs and so on

The basic premise of priorities seems fair enough to me and they are private businesses. I'd extend it to social care, taxis and minicabs, and also to lorries myself.

I'd like to exclude anyone who believes Boris Johnson is any good, but voting is and should always remain secret.