To think staff in a hospital coffee shop should have their own priority queue?

[Thorilicious]

Just getting a coffee while visiting a relative in hospital. A few of the people in the queue are paramedics, nurses. I think they should have their own queue, so that they can be served first, so they aren't wasting their break queuing.
(I would have let them in front of me, but the queue only built up once I had paid.)

Agree totally. I often feel the same in a hospital coffee shop.

Our local hospital has a separate side to the canteen for staff to use. There again rhe much bigger problem there is how short the opening hours are!

Yep, 100% agree and have thought this before too!

I can see the rationale, but If they were really in a hurry they’d use the staff facilities wouldn’t they? I can see the situation in the hospitals near me if you let staff have priority patients would never be served at certain times of the day. And I’m sure turning up late to an appointment because you’d let staff in front of you would get short shrift. Indeed, Rishi now wants to fine fine you for not showing up! Though, I see nothing about the giving the patient £10 if the doctor’s late or cancels…

Of course they should, the same in the restaurant, I have queued for ages to get a meal. They should also get free hot drinks and a staff only canteen where they can rest.

Don't most hospitals have staff-only canteens? If they're in a major rush they can use that, surely?

That’s actually such a good idea. I often go to a local pret next to a hospital. I’d definitely be happy to wait until all Nhs staff were served before me. A line just for them would be good. Alternatively they could show Nhs card and their drinks could be made as a priority because the orders all go to a computer screen for the baristas to use. So Nhs orders could be flagged and prioritised that way.

im not sure about Starbucks and whether they still just write orders on cups so that would be harder to arrange.

I disagree unless there are no staff only facilities.

I chair a charity that runs a hospital coffee shop.
Attempts to manage queues, preorder to save time etc have not worked quite honestly and quick efficient service works as well as anything.
If the queue is too long then customers go elsewhere and we lose our profits ( used to aid patients)

I’m a nurse and can only wish we had a staff only canteen or staff queue!

Sorry op. Now read properly and see you mean the hospital coffee shop. This absolutely should be the case. And a rest area with free good quality refreshments should be available to staff too.
i was just thinking of the prets etc next to the hospitals.

Same. I am thinking of patients who may also have limited time to grab a coffee before their appointment or be unable to stand in line for long.

I used to think this but then I was introduced to the genius of Click and Collect on the Costa app - as used by serious staff members.

No need to queue, order ready when you get there.

Seriously should be taught on mandatory training.

Here, the hospital restaurants are still exclusively for the staff (since Covid), so if you are stuck waiting outside A & E for 4 hours or more, worrying about your relative inside, you can’t even get a cup of coffee! No benches either, so nowhere to sit down!

My dsis is a nurse. The majority of hospitals don't have a staff canteen. They don't even get a discount in the on site coffee shops.

No staff only canteens or break rooms where DH works. They were repurposed years ago.

Not in any hospital I have worked i for the last 30p years, NHS or private. Some dont even have a separate staff room on the wards any more so its often a queue in the coffee shop or restaurant or a tea and biscuit in the busy office with everyone coming in and out and there is nothing open after 9pm for the night staff.. . The last staff only canteen I had access to was in my training in the 80s.

Oh come on! While I don’t agree with this policy idea of Rishi’s at all as some of the reasons people don’t turn up are very complex, his general aim is at the “I can’t be arsed to turn up” brigade.

Are you seriously suggesting that when your appointment is running late it’s because the consultant has decided he would rather watch Bargain Hunt in the staff room then treat you..?

Wow, that surprises me @BlanketsBanned

Both my parents worked in separate NHS hospitals and both had access to private staff canteens with hot and cold food, drinks and rest areas, and that was easily in the last decade.

Not in any hospital I’ve ever worked in!

Nope, disagree. They must be on breaks and can queue like anyone else.

i also think that the subsidising of staff canteens in the NHS should stop given the current state of chaos and the money put to patient care.

As a staff member queuing in a coffee shop, I have been moaned at by a member of the public who thought they should have priority over me.

In my old hospital we had a Costa and I often used the click and collect. If staff were on a break then some would be happy to queue and chat with other staff...it's a break from the ward environment!

@Souquet this is already the case in the majority of hospitals!

Well that's ridiculous