To think doctors surgeries should not close on Monday

[Viviennemary]

Just read NHS surgeries have been advised to close on Monday. All appoitmemts to be rescheduled. Or is it ok because it's now a bank holiday.

I haven’t said people should work on bank holidays when not contracted to do so. I am saying that I feel that it shouldn’t be a bank holiday at all.

Our surgery is closed but they have rescheduled My appointment for Tuesday I think they should have stayed open though just to honour their appointments. Our hospital is going ahead with consultations and operations and have given patients the option to cancel.

Some people have got just a little bit too comfortable with the idea that every aspect of people’s lives and behaviour should be dictated by the state, haven’t they.

Surely it's case by case? Ours is remaining open to all those with pre booked appointments but isn't available walk in/phone for on the day services.

I don’t want to go out and have fun, I don’t care if days out, shops and restaurants are closed but I do care about the poor people who have had their loved one’s funeral cancelled, medical appointments cancelled, even weddings or other events where people have planned and looked forward to for months or years.

I care about those who have no choice but to work on that day yet their childcare options are closed. It’s not about us going out and having fun, it’s a massive upheaval and logistical nightmare for many.

The supermarket I work for is closed until 5pm but I am working as usual from 5.45 am because our drivers want to deliver otherwise it will have a knock on effect that will take ages to get back on track.
I think it"s great will get so much done without fucking customers in the way.
The way our bank holidays work is we were given 9 days extra annual leave so we can take it when we want so this day would have to come out of this year's allowance which most people will have already accounted for.

Many people on MN seem to think that a decision was made to close schools specifically and this then led to a decision to shut everything else down as a result. That's not the case. A Bank holiday was declared, that means any services that are usually closed on Bank Holidays will be closed. Yes, that includes schools, but it also most GP surgeries, lots of non-urgent NHS services and any other organisation where staff are contractually entitled to BH off. It is not the case that if Schools were somehow to remain open (despite all the staff being contractually entitled to the day off) everything else would carry on as normal on the day of the Queens funeral.

YANBU. I had a midwife appointment booked on Monday, she's now having to do home visits over the weekend to make the appointments up. I don't think medical appointments should be cancelled, especially hospital appointments.

It's not really impacted me much but I feel a little uncomfortable about an extra forced bank holiday. Thankfully, I've got a spare holiday left to use at work but many of my colleagues hadn't planned for the day off, so have already used all of their annual leave. It's unclear whether they will have to take the day off unpaid.

Most things carry on as normal on normal bank holidays, i.e. shops, airports, public transport, etc. By contrast, some people's lives are being disrupted due to the funeral "lock down". GP services are poor enough as it is without them being closed for another day. At least with businesses, they try to "catch up" after an enforced day off, but GP surgeries will just saunter on as normal with the usual difficulties in getting appointments etc.

Schools remained open for key worker children during lockdown ( including holidays) at the request of the government. You can't now simply expect schools to remain open for keyworker children when it's a bank holiday and there are 'childcare' issues .That should not be an expectation placed on schools anymore. At the time families were not allowed to mix ( eg grandparents, friends to provide childcare)due to lockdown rules. That is no longer the case. I am aware some people will not have family and friends able to look after children. As for the idea of trying to watch the funeral on a TV in schools, it is not suitable in all cases .

Unfortunately covid gave key workers in this sense of entitlement that makes them think they should get special treatment when it comes to childcare.

I agree OP. It's ridiculous.

Speaking from a place of privilege. Not everyone will get the day off. Some people who can barely afford it and are on zero hours contracts so won't be paid.
Some peoples lives will be impacted for the funeral of someone they couldn't care less about because they have their own issues going on.

What does this mean? Where has any healthcare worker expected special treatment?

I don't think that not wanting to work a day that your contract says you should be off for free is entitlement.

Eh?? If you want key services to function then children need to be in school. Do you really not understand that?

It's ok for them to close now because it's an official Bank holiday

If you have an accident or emergency you can go to A&E...they don't close on BHs

Or call 111 they are 24/7

So are the healthcare workers that have been demanding schools open for them on the bank holiday not expecting special treatment then?

It's my birthday on Monday 😒
And I'm working 8 hours of it in ED (midnight til 8am)
Gonna be a great one I'm sure! Not.

I have to work, my boss doesn't care that school is closed. Good job they're with their dad anyway.

I've reread the thread. As far I can see, there is one singular poster (who doesn't say they are a healthcare worker) saying that schools should open for keyworkers.

So I'm not sure where you are getting the idea that healthcare staff want this?

I think teachers have a lot in common with us and I would no more expect a teacher to work for free than a nurse.

Could you help us by giving some concrete examples of key workers having this sense of entitlement?

References or links to this would help thank you

@happyfishcoco exactly this.

I do understand why it can't go ahead, but I really wish my surgery hadn't been cancelled. I am struggling to stand due to pain and haven't been paid from work for the past two months, as I ran out of sick pay while waiting for the operation. Finally got the date for 7 months after the problem significantly worsened (10 months from original referral for surgery), and will have at least another month before they can fit me in again, most likely two. I will most likely have lost 6 months wages before I can go back to work now.

It's a bank holiday, when have they ever opened? We get little enough as it is.