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?

Lovely post🙄

As a former shop and hospitality workerI must protest.
Sounds like standard bank holiday and other big party weekend.
So yes, others get that too.
Let's not pretend others don't deal with ridiculous amount of racism and sexism at work from drunk and high people. Some don't even need the dutch courage to do that.
I grant that it has to be very difficult to deal with suicides and deaths, absolutely.

@Chilicabbage yes, others have to deal with shit. But they can throw them out of a shop or at least refuse to serve them.
They can't do that in A&E. They have to help them whilst listening to the abuse. Which can be physical.
And not sure many other workers were vomitted on yesterday. Or had blood spurted in their face. Or had a drunk pee up the wall of their 'office'.
Merry Christmas everyone.

They are no more 'heroes' than carers,
restaurant staff, police officers, emergency plumbers, taxi drivers and all the other people who chose a career or job with unsociable hours.

And no one on here said they were.

Although I'm pretty sure doctors would love to be paid the same as an emergency plumbers call out rate 😂

You've not read the thread then.

And carers can only dream of doctor's salaries.

@Inca22 I can assure you as a former retail worker that yes I was regularly spat on, physically and mentally abused, had many thing thrown at me (heavy things), experienced having other people's blood on me in changing rooms, and yes often had urine or worse on our floors/walls. This was all in a seemingly well to do high end lingerie shop in a nice part of London by the way! And this happened frequently throughout the year. So please don't jump to the presumption that shop workers can just throw people out or refuse service because believe me my manager never once did that. She was of the opinion that we had to deal with it because otherwise the customers might complain and she wanted to have 0% complaints for our store. Retail is fucking hard and the pay was minimum wage with a crap pension, no benefits for working bank holidays etc at all, and no perks like blue light card or similar. The most we got was a discount on our own products and a nice present at Christmas or a creme egg at Easter.
I now work in health care and while yes all the things your mum experiences are true for me too, I am at least paid better and have better back up to deal with these things now.

I think they're heroes now I've read this thread and understand the level of sneering and contempt many seem to harbour against NHS workers.

It's like when I praise a child in my class and another one asks 'what about me?' Saying nice things to or about NHS staff doesn't detract from your life or achievements.

I can't imagine seeing a nice message on sm and sneering about the recipient being undeserving. Just in the world making it a little bit worse.

While they can refuse service, fair enough that's different, I don't think you ever tried to escort out a very angry drunk.
While blood is rare, unless there is a fight or idiot broke glass and cut themselves, angry or half comatose pissing somewhere when pissed happens often.
Lots of bar staff had vomit on them at some point. Also don't forget it's usually up to staff to clean toilets. People aim shit next to the toilet on purpose for shit and giggles(yup can't explain otherwise what I experienced few times). Most hospitality staff are not a stranger to bodily fluids in places where they shouldn't be.

Sorry @Inca22 my post was also directed at @mumsneedwine so not all directed at you. I don't have the edit function on my mobile.

the majority of my NHS friends hate stuff like this

Oh I see that other people have shit experiences in their jobs too.

Let's not say anything nice to anyone lest some mardy arse thinks we're in some way implying that their job is not very difficult too.

Hear hear. Image having to nurse some of the moaning ingrates on this thread, or their loved ones? You can just image how rude, patronising and foul they will be to the healthcare staff they obviously despise. The very definition of thankless. It makes me appreciate our healthcare professionals even more that they have to deal with people who resent even having to read kind posts about them.

Imagine necking your sherry and quality streets and taking to Mumsnet to have a go at people being nice about nurses on Xmas day. What sort of a sad, bitter loser does that?

There is difference between
"hey it's a hard job, they deserve some recognition"
And "heroes!".

Hero is a civilian shouting at active shooter to distract him from shooting others. For example. Hero is a young lad going into water after his young friends went through the ice. Now that n one can argue with, can they.

Cringe

"There is difference between
"hey it's a hard job, they deserve some recognition"
And "heroes!".

Hero is a civilian shouting at active shooter to distract him from shooting others. For example. Hero is a young lad going into water after his young friends went through the ice. Now that n one can argue with, can they."

Who fucking cares? This is someone saying it to their friend, a healthcare worker who was working on Christmas Day, to cheer them up.

"You're a hero for working on Xmas day."

"No you're not. That's not the definition of hero at all. Lots of people work on Xmas day. Lots of people have hard jobs. You're no hero."

I know which sort of person I'd rather be.

Happy Christmas everyone. I'm on the Prosecco so out of here. But many others don't have the luxury of spouting on mumsnet today. Because they are too busy saving lives, because it's their job . And I for one am thankful they are they. Bye.

@MissBuffyAnneSummers my DD earned more as a carer on a Sunday than she does as a doctor.

This thread is something else.

I spent christmas day in hospital because my newborn is in hospital been in NICU/hdu since the second day of his life hes now almost 6 weeks old.

Yes the staff were here because it’s part of their job but they work extremely hard, are caring and are incredibly sweet towards the babies, the siblings and the families. Some of you have no idea whatsoever.

I think most people do have an idea.

I just don't see what is 'heroic' about it.

Ahh thank you!

It's possible to recognise someone doing a tough job well without resorting to hyperbole.

I don't know anyone who works for the NHS who appreciates it either.

To quote my friend, "I'm not a fucking angel. I'm a single mother with a mortgage and bills to pay. That's why I do it."

What we are is bloody amazing for putting up with the constant verbal and physical abuse that none of us signed up for or expected to have to experience.
One of our ED team, recently fractured their spine, thanks to some low life and is back working Xmas day as not a religious day for them and does not want everyone else to cover as was their turn for Xmas. That is bloody brilliant - not heroic, just a good person.