Disappointed by some of the negativity of some of these threads

[Wombat79]

As a clinician that works long, hard but rewarding shifts in an NHS A&E/ED I’ve been shocked by some of the negativity written towards the NHS on some of these threads.

Suggestions that part time NHS workers that are part time for lifestyle reasons should work full time (including those that choose to work apart time due to children). I work part time and have a 3 and 5 year old. My husband earns more than I earn so I have no choice but to be part time, unless I sacrificed my children’s time with their parents. I think these comments are unreasonable. I will go out of my way to work extra if needed to help my colleagues but not at the expense of my children’s well being. I believe the majority of healthcare workers (that truely care will step up in whatever capacity they can and do not need these short sighted comments).

Comments made about not volunteering to help if required because the NHS deserves to struggle because of the cuts made in staffing. The government made these cuts, it’s not the choice of staff that have to work under the pressure of staffing cuts. It’s actually a rewarding job paid or unpaid if you care about people. If volunteering or coming out of retirement is of no interest to you you don’t need to tell people or make nasty comments.

Concerns the NHS won’t cope - I believe it absolutely will. But only if people stop abusing it by attending with paper cuts (I kid you not), the common cold, ear ache, chronic aches and pains that would be all be better off being seen by a GP. I appreciate people have health anxiety but trying to rationalise and use others to help you do so is important.

The general panic on these boards. People wanting to isolate perfectly well children and themselves without any need, questions on whether to go to work, questions on whether relatives can stay with them if they work with the public for fear of being infected by them. What about the public sector workers, shop workers etc. that are working hard to try and keep the nation running, healthy and safe? What if we all just succumb to anxiety, fear and scaremongering?

Let’s be kind, positive, support/look after one another, stay calm and trust advice. Spreading fear and malicious rumours/making unnecessarily judgemental comments are not helping anyone.

Well if you work part time hours due to children it is technically a lifestyle choice? Do they think THE NHS is an exclusive club you need to donate blood a kidney and or your firstborn to join?

Some people are just plain crazy 🤷‍♀️

On facebook I'm being spanked by an idiot for saying a child with a high temperature who is vomiting who has actually seen THREE doctors over the last few days possibly doesnt have Corona virus and shouldn't need to isolate (and might need a uti check if she hasn't had one) this is apparently unreasonable of me and its clearly Corona virus because some children have had an upset stomach before a high temperature 🤦‍♀️ I despair I really do

I’m sorry you’ve had to read that. Some people are bonkers.

I’ve had a lot of experiences with the NHS, some good and some bad, but staff are not at fault for the cuts to funding and the vast Majority are doing their best.

Slippery and sinkgirl thanks for brightening the boards 😊 I hope if you ever need to come to ED and see me (hopefully not) you won’t be disappointed by the care 😉

I agree, the NHS is stretched beyond measure due to the poor decisions made by politicians and not clinicians. I don't think anyone should be abused because their life means they need to work part time. I work for myself but still work evenings and weekend to fit around my DC. There should be more positivity for everyone, just be kind to each other! What's wrong with people

Housespider another voice of reason 😍

With the way one of my twins climbs everything in the house, if you work near me it’s very likely we will be in to see you (again) very soon 😂

I’ve had occasion to complain about NHS care in the past, but it’s rarely due to the staff. For the most part the staff have been wonderful. On multiple occasions NHS staff saved my son’s life. Yes, I get angry about waiting lists and so but that’s not the staff’s fault.

NHS staff are human beings with lives outside work like the rest of us. Choosing to be an HCP should not mean sacrificing everything else for your job.

I do some work for my local CCG and I was in a meeting where an OB was complaining about the percentage of women working in maternity because they almost all work part time, so I asked him whether he would go part time to look after his kids and he had no response to that. Prat.

There are certain posters on these boards that are isolating themselves in their homes and using their time to be keyboard warriors to knock everyone else. They also expect to have food supplies, the NHS and delivery drivers at their beck and call while they isolate safely in their homes

I sympathise OP, I'm public sector so used to hearing/reading comments about me and my colleagues all being fat cats on gold-plated pensions who push paper clips around all day. Meanwhile I'm doing a bit of the job of the grade above me because we're stretched through 'efficiency savings' and a bit of the job of the grade below me because...yep, you guessed it, and of course my own job too, and I'm working M-F 7-4 and 8-8 every other weekend because I'm involved in the Covid-19 response.

I find the people quickest to run their mouths off are those least likely to step up, muck in or put themselves out at all, but expect everyone else to.

My upmost respect to you op.
It is not down to anyone to have an opinion on someone else’s hours of work,perhaps they would like to volunteer their services for free to pick up some of the slack.

I'm sorry that you have been subject to that. I have a huge admiration for all HCPs, especially at a time like this. I did see one long list of a poster's various acquaintances that were part time GPs etc, but I just read that as "look at all these people who might be working full time if they weren't so exhausted by the ridiculous hours/impossible job/pressure from above". I'm not a HCP but work part time for just the same reason as you and would not be in a position to suddenly go full time, however good the reason.

Suggestions that part time NHS workers that are part time for lifestyle reasons should work full time

They clearly don't understand that staffing levels are set by hours, not by people. Part-time staff can't just decide to work full time because the wages allocation isn't there - unless these people expect NHS staff to work unpaid for the extra hours. (Which wouldn't surprise me!)