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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

for thinking that it is ok that the NHS look after their own? Or do they not?

124 replies

GreenEggsAndSpam · 31/07/2008 21:14

My personal experience of my DH working in the NHS is that once we are at the appt/treatment stage and medics see his NHS ID badge, we get speedier treatment, more time, better explanations (DH is not medically qualified himself). I got a private room after DC1 was born when I was not in clinical need of one (once he mentioned he worked for the NHS). Our concerns seem to be taken more seriously if DP takes the DC's to appts (and visibly wears his badge) rather than me, even when I am more clear and persistent than him in discussions etc.

Now, is it because there are pretty few perks to being an NHS employee, that the 'taking care of their own' seems like just the least people can do, or is it wrong and to be discouraged?

I am not suggesting that people are bumped up lists or that medical opinion is over-ruled in any way, just that some NHS staff will give a little more if they are dealing with colleagues...

OP posts:

SilkCutMama · 31/07/2008 22:15

Blu - the consultants think they are "top dogs" but they have no idea what the non- medical dirctors are doing do they??????

lou031205 · 31/07/2008 22:23

Yes, there is a code. Any referral letters tend to start "Thank you for seeing this pleasant nurse...."

In fact, I left the NICU unit in July 2006, but the GPs all still say "ah yes, you're a paeds nurse, aren't you" when I take DCs to see them. Actually no, I just happened to work on a neonatal unit for a while. I am adult trained.

But yes, I got scan photos free, and I was given a private room the day after I gave birth due to my NHS role and the fact that I was likely to be staying in with DD2(slightly prem) for about 5 days.

lou031205 · 31/07/2008 22:26

I have to say that I always try to be gracious when I have very simple medical concepts explained to me, and I resist cutting in with "yeah I know, I'm a nurse".

But my lead GP makes me laugh, I go in with a 5 minute issue, and he spends 20 minutes chatting to me about issues in the NHS or medical research etc. It is quite nice, but when he is already behind by 30 minutes, it doesn't help his list!!

Sidge · 31/07/2008 22:30

I have never had preferential treatment, but find that medical professionals do tend to talk to you differently once they find out you're in the business.

I also know how to work the system a little bit as well I suppose, which means the children and I benefit!

theexmrsfederer · 31/07/2008 22:32

I work in the NHS and got treated like a faceless moron during fertility treatment, antenatally and during labour. I got no special treatment AT ALL. I wonder if sometimes it works against you because you get defensive consultants (female, in my experience) who think "hey-up, this woman thinks she knows it all!"

I never made an issue of being an employee but it must have been obvious as they certainly ask this info during your booking-in examinations.

I fucking HATED being on the other side of the desk IYKWIM.

mamadoc · 31/07/2008 22:40

I work in my maiden name and use my married name in private life one of the reasons being that I don't like to tell GP/ midwife etc I'm a doctor. This did backfire spectacularly on one occasion when I had flu and went to the GP for a sick note. I must have been looking especially rough because I noticed she had started to go into her depression screening questions. Finally I had to tell her that I am a psychiatrist and I don't know who was more embarrassed her or me.

I think it cuts both ways with the special treatment. I did get seen by the consultant at antenatal clinic but it meant I actually waited longer and sometimes I think they assume you have more knowledge than you do. On the whole I prefer just the normal person service.

twinklytoes · 31/07/2008 23:24

got some scan pics free with dd2 and a side room jsut a few weeks ago when had to be admitted with pg3. but wasn't really expected and I made a point of telling the midwifes to kick me out if someone needed it more than me.

dd1 needed a referral to neurology last year and by chance one of my colleagues is husband to the consultant neurologist. we still were seen within the guidelines provided by DOH. But there were comments made by the nurses when we went for an MRI saying we were being seen very quickly. I was pretty

tiggerlovestobounce · 31/07/2008 23:41

The only "perk" that I am aware of is that if staff need admission to a specialty that would usually mean them being admitted to the ward they work in they have sometimes been admitted to a different area.
I dont know of anyone getting anything better than that.

thumbwitch · 31/07/2008 23:47

worked for me - I got a private room after having DS because I was threatening to leave and they discovered I used to work in the hospital - as one MW said to me, you get little enough working for the NHS, might as well make the most of what you can get.

thumbwitch · 31/07/2008 23:48

also I got a physio appt much quicker when I worked there because they could phone me in the lab when they had a cancellation/ no-show and I could be there in a couple of minutes.

thumbwitch · 31/07/2008 23:51

I was also under the haematology consultant, who was new since I had worked in haematology, so I did tell her that I knew about my condition from the lab side, to save her explaining it in words of one syllable. As a result, my poor DH was left bewildered by the technical level of the discussion but it saved time.

BellaDonna79 · 01/08/2008 00:03

My great granny was a Dr, and pretty eminent (sp?) in her field. When she was in her bed shortly before she died a junior Dr came in and started being very patronising about her condition and using language a 5 y/o would have found simple, she smiled at him, informed him that actually she did understand what he was talking about as she had in fact (literally) written the book on it. His face was an absolute picture as he looked at the name on the chart! She did get very good treatment for the rest of her life though. I don't necessarily think it is right but in any other organisation the same thing happens...

StealthPolarBear · 01/08/2008 08:29

lol Bella I bet that put him in his place

ipanemagirl · 01/08/2008 08:35

my GP didn't get special treatment at all when he went into hospital for a procedure.
Nor did a close friend who was a doctor at the main Oxford hospital.
I think it used to be more that way but not as far as I've heard.
However my sister who was a mw had all her babies at hospitals she worked in and she always got a private room.

hana · 01/08/2008 08:39

I don't get this.
so should I expect preferential treatment at my children's school because I am a 'colleague'? Better parts in the school play? A nicer desk to sit in? Non bruised fruit at break?

Surely you should get the same treatment, it shouldn't be better explained or things taken more seriously or speeded up. The private room thing ok but other things? I don't think so.

Shoegazer · 01/08/2008 10:08

Ah Hana, but I think that you are missing the point that if you work in the NHS and you are ill they need to get you better quickly as they are so short staffed that they want you back at work pronto. They are not being nice to us really

The only perk I got was when I was leaving the hospital 2 hours after my DD was born (totally uneccessary emergency transfer from homebirth but that is another story) and a HCA came up to me and said that I wasn't allowed to carry my daughter out of the hospital as I had just given birth (I had been discharged). I asked why and she barked "policy" at me. I said fine, you go get the policy folder which should be located in your midwife station and show me the page with this policy and I will let ytou take my baby to the car. Of course she couldn't because it was utter tripe, but I see the fact that I know the system as being a perk.

OsmosisBanana · 01/08/2008 10:22

How odd to get 1st class travel. I actually deal with travel claims / expenses in the NHS and there are very strict guidelines as to what people can and cannot claim for.

They can travel 1st class if they want but I will only refund them the cost of a standard ticket.

Same for subsistence, stay in the ritz if you want but only a set ammount will be paid.

Maybe it varies from Trust to Trust....

I had a private room when DD was born but the number of times I have had to go to A&E for myself or DD the badge flashing has never worked!

sherbetdipdab · 01/08/2008 10:23

I found that the staff speak to DH and not to me, I'm the one thats pregnant not him and I'm a nurse and they go all matey and weird with him.

We do get things explained differently, but it is just they use the medical jargon with us.

Last week at the ante natal clinic the doctor introduced himself as an obstetrician, he is actually a junior doctor and very quick to demote himself when he saw DH's badge.

In my last pregnancy we were kept in the eye casualty for 8 hours and the staff were really off with us, then just as we were leaving DH's bleep went off and he used their phone to answer it. 10 minutes after arriving home the phone rang, it was the eye doctor to ask if DH was a doctor so I said 'No, he is a surgeon' and put the phone down. Next morning the consultant phoned us to say he would see us in an hour.

Its weird and sometimes annoying and sycophantic, although a private room when I have this baby in 3 weeks would be fab! Not likely though!

moondog · 01/08/2008 10:31

Huh! I wish. I'm a salt and had to call for an Independent Review to access appropriate salt for my own daughter. Can you imagine how much embarassment that caused????!!

VictorianSqualor · 01/08/2008 10:37

I got free scan pics and a free private room, I doubt very much it was because MiL works in the childrens hospital

I did get friendlier treatment when having my blood tests though (MiL is a phlebotomist)

2boys2 · 01/08/2008 20:46

i have been very fortunate with all my "perks". Free scan pictures, private room, got children seen very quickly by consultants. Again it is the attitude that this is our "bonus" for working there.

My2 · 01/08/2008 20:53

those of you that do get 'special treatment' do they know you? do you work in the same hospital?

i've worked for the nhs now for 18 years and have had no special treatment

maybe i should wear my ID all the time...

mablemurple · 01/08/2008 20:56

SilkCut - your friend may travel 1st class but only get reimbursed at the standard fare rate. Also, not sure why you have a gripe about her attending training days - are directors not allowed further training then?

Original poster

GreenEggsAndSpam · 01/08/2008 21:29

As the OP, can I just clarify that DP is not medically qualified (although his position tends to be respected by staff). He doesn't actually have a base at the hospital where we have received good treatment (and is unlikely to be known to clinical staff) and nor do I think the treatent has been to the detriment of anyone else.
It sounds like 'the extra mile' happens quite a bit, although it is not universal. I am a bit at the 'service' some people have received from the NHS as retold on here...

OP posts:

AvenaLife · 01/08/2008 21:33

They give you speedier treatment because they want you back at work slaving your guts out. Joke!

It doesn't make any difference, all are equal where I am. It may change when I'm a doctor though.

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