To think NHS workers aren’t ‘hero’s’ for working Christmas Day?!

[Reindeerlighthouse]

Just that. I have quite a few Nurses on my friend’s lists on social media and a few of them have posted today about how they’ve been working. Que loads of ‘omg, you’re an absolute angel’ ‘omg, you’re a true hero lovely’ type comments on all of their posts.

Am I being dim? They’ve been rostered on, they’re just doing their jobs on a day they’ve been rota’d onto, why are they ‘hero’s’ for that? It’s literally their job. I’m not saying their job doesn’t deserve credit because it absolutely does, but I’m sure if they’d have refused to work Christmas Day they’d have been facing disciplinary action?

My husband has worked the last 5 Christmas days (not medical related) no one has ever said he’s a hero for working it.

AIBU to think ti really doesn’t make them a hero? Just people doing their jobs on a day they’ve been told to do it?

Tbh sounds like your a bit bitter about it , anyone that works Christmas is absolutely a gem I woudlnt do it , but NHS workers are saving lifes of people's husbands wife's ect delivering babies ect instead of spending time with their husband wives and their own children , nurses work extremely hard and longer shifts than almost every job out there

Im not a NHS worker nor is my partner or mum dad ect but this is why I think NHS workers are called heros over anyone else's your husband has literally in my eyes sacrificed his own Christmas day with his family and has as a result possible give someone many more Christmases with their family , that's a hero in my eyes

To me. They are people doing their job in the healthcare sector.

I agree with you, OP. I worked one Christmas on the ward and they made sure it was very nice for us. Much shorter shift, with the longer shifts taken by colleagues who didn't celebrate it. We only had six patients, because the ones who could possibly go home, even for just for a few hours with their family, were gone. The ward sister made a lovely buffet for us in the staff room. I opened gifts with DCs at 7am before work, and was at PIL eating lunch at 2pm. I got paid double, earned kudos for volunteering for the shift, and will dine out on it forever.

Heroes is the wrong word. A fire engine whizzed last me today, are they heroes or just doing their job?

A hero is someone who is courageous and probably willing to sacrifice their life whilst trying to save another or others.

I could not get worked up about this.

So some people you know are working on Xmas day and post on sm because they'd like some recognition for it? They can post what they like on their own sm and you can unfriend or unfollow if you don't like them.

Their friends and family, knowing what is expected, do not disappoint and provide the expected recognition - good for them, why not make someone feel good about themselves.

Do you always get cross when someone else receives praise and recognition from their friends? It is not a criticism of you. It does not affect you in any way.

Nhs staff who work christmas day get double pay plus an extra day off. They usually get a free meal too. I volunteer to work christmas day for the pay and frankly most MN users are complaining how miserable they are so it seems I'm not missing much!²3

Tbf people do generally only come to mn to post about their xmas day if something went wrong. Those of us who had fabulous days wouldn't bother posting about it.

My nurse mother is doing all night shifts (pre/Christmas eve, Christmas day now boxing day)
& is making a big deal of it but really she's never cared about Christmas & just took 2 weeks off! 😂

Anyone who works on Xmas day is a trouper.

Whether they are a medic, carer, chef, waiting staff, engineer, whatever.

Trouper. But not hero. Hero is hyperbole.

I used to work in care over Christmas as a young adult. It was a break from being home at the time of year when things were most likely to descend into shouting or worse. I was happy to do it not a hero.

SALWARP that’s not true it depends on what trust you are in
we get 88% more which is the same as working on a Sunday and no day off

Many got over that hero bs after some NHS staff and the "hero worshippers" bullied small businesses over covid for free stuff.
"I work through covid! Can I have free takeaway for me and family? WHAT do you mean no? Honestly, I don't think we will ever use you again and will tell friends".
"Why aren't you doing discount for NHS? You are terrible".
Said to people who also worked through covid and experienced incredible rise in aggressive behaviour. 🙄

Agree with pp. It's yet another way to try to prevent criticism of now sub-standard healtcare system alongside with ❤️NHS.

@Chilicabbage It was horrible wasn't it? Many essential workers worked through lockdowns, not just the NHS.

Most people having a rubbish day but who would find it hard to articulate all the ambiguous nasty comments and other little things are unlikely to bother posting either. Christmas is a difficult time for many. Working can be easier.

@Reindeerlighthouse you clearly don't have any idea what happens at Christmas. My parents were medical and the number of suicides, accidents, DV critical cases etc were just heartbreaking at that time of year. NHS staff are heroes for working in a crucial role, for shit pay, in a job that is continually undermined by Tory policy. For them to be criticised by an ignorant member of the public is even worse. I hope you nor your family never have to rely on them at this time of year.

Your husband is a hero. So are nurses, medical staff , police, security guards. I hear recognition every year for all those who work over the holidays from all working backgrounds. radio 1 was praising workers yesterday from all backgrounds.
why have u started another nurse bashing thread.

Just to add, some choose to work Christmas Day.

Have you calmed down any yet OP? I just wanted to respond to your point about NHS staff knowing about the shifts before taking the job.

It feels very different working Christmas when you are young with no commitments- but we all get older and our priorities in life change. Much like people who take a job with a long commute - it's fine at first, but eventually wears you down, especially when your life changes, eg DC come along.

Working Christmas can be absolutely lovely for many reasons, but it can be miserable too. My DC cried yesterday when I left, I promised them I will only be a few hours but got caught up in an emergency, so worked far later than planned. It was shit, I feel bad for the DC and for myself. I didn't really forsee that when I first started out in this job.

So no, I'm definitely not a hero for doing the job that I'm paid to do - but I am allowed to feel sorry for myself now and again. I don't post about work on SM, but if I did, I would appreciate the odd person replying 'thanks', hopefully others wouldn't begrudge me that...

I spent Christmas Day last year at my DMs hospital bedside, and in my opinion the health care assistants are absolutely true heroes everyday. I don't know how much they are paid but I suspect it isn't nearly what they deserve.

Many, many people work on Christmas Day. I'm not convinced nurses are anymore heroes on Christmas Day than anyone else who finds themselves working. I'm also it sure why nurses are applauded more than hospital doctors and health care assistants.

I think lots of people use the term 'nurse' as a generic term for NHS staff. Much like people often say teachers when they mean school staff. I get called a nurse regularly even though I'm a midwife. I completely agree about HCAs and there's a massive problem with their pay - minimum wage is creeping up to be almost equal with their hourly rate - many supermarkets pay more. We definitely risk losing lots of our amazing HCAs as they would have a much easier shift working in a shop. It's a big worry as wards wouldn't function without them.

It's not just any other day on the rota tho is it op? The whole country mostly grinds to a holt on Christmas day and people make extra effort on Christmas day to meet up with family/friends. They cant be those people meeting up with family and friends because they are working, keeping other people alive in some cases.
So it's not just a normal day. So they are heros.

For that to even bother you is sad op. You clearly have other stuff going on. Go find yourself some peace . (Maybe volunteer at a hospital next year on Christmas eve, Christmas day and boxing day?)

No Dr gets double pay as our contract is different. We work a 13h day and get a 8/9h day in lieu. Really bugs me when I've worked 7 out of 9 xmases and the nurses ask if I'm doing it for the extra pay like they are lol. That and cos we move trusts every 6m-1y the "I worked last year" stands for nothing. In theatres most non Dr staff do the morning or afternoon not both, wish we had that option

See some people are saying it’s time and a half, some people say it’s double and some people say there’s no extra pay at all - I wonder if it differs from Trust to Trust

Drs get zero extra pay. We work 13h days any bank hol and get an 8h day off in lieu. I've never once in the 7 of the 9 years I've been qualified and worked xmas managed to get the free lunch as its served for 2h only and in icu as the only Dr for the ward you can't choose when someone is periarrest and the kitchens won't let another ward member of staff collect on your behalf...