Pop-up supermarkets for NHS staff

[longcoffee]

I work in an industry where we utilise containerlike cabins as pop up offices in some very unusual places. Full electricity, secure etc etc.

Got me thinking, having watched the awful video of the critical care nurse in tears after being unable to purchase food after her shift, could the supermarkets not stick pop up NHS-staff only mini container supermarkets in the grounds of hospitals, or even supermarket car parks, that are for the sole use of NHS staff during this crazy crazy time? I know they'd only fit the basics in, but faced with bread, milk, meat, fruit, veg and basic household goods, or bugger all - I think it could be useful.

Appreciate it would mean more staffing and stocking, but whilst we as a nation are behaving so appallingly and leaving shelves bare, it would at least guarantee these incredible people are able to feed themselves properly.

Am I being completely daft?

I think that sounds like a great idea - I work in the HR dept of a large acute hospital, have been trying to think of the best way to help our frontline staff with the food shopping issue as it's causing do much extra stress. I think they'd have to operate some kind of system so it doesn't get too crowded in a small space, perhaps like an old fashioned shop where the shop worker picks the goods rather than customer helping themselves ...

Great idea! Stock essentials and put a list up in the window / outside of what you have, serve customers via a hatch and customers pay contactless, so only goods totalling £30.

Yes I have been wondering why on earth staff one of the supermarkets can't just create a dedicated portal into their system, deploy e a dozen of delivery lorries just for the hospital/healthcare setting and have stuff delivered at the end of every shift (into a nearby empty shop/church hall/refrigerated container if there really is no space at the hospital). It can't be that difficult to organise.

If people aren't buying huge amounts a delivery van probably holds 20-30 orders, if not more. If they really can't get hold of vans, there are plenty of spare bus drivers and buses no longer on the roads (put the cold stuff in cool boxes).

Great idea!

That is an absolute genius idea!

Anyone any idea how to go get this implemented, MN hive mind?

Brilliant!

Put this on Twitter and tag piers Morgan in as he's currently badgering government to set up things for nhs staff and things are happening

Yes a big lorry in a hospital car park would be good - although it wouldn’t help GPs much.
The hour for vulnerable and NHS isn’t much use for those already working by the time the allocated time starts.

I’ve tweeted, and tagged the major supermarkets and the environment secretary, who appears to be the one driving conversation about the supermarkets joining forces etc.

Glad I wasn’t going crazy, it seemed so obvious!

My friend is a nurse at a very well known, large hospital, and says they have a pop up shop that has been set up in their canteen, so the idea is definitely out there.

@Ilovewheelychairs that's good to hear 🙂

I kinda thought that something in the car park would mean that if you were a GP, or working in the hospital you would be able to access, as long as you had your ID? same principle as driving to a supermarket, just a personal one, just for the NHS superstars!

I'm sure logistically it'll be a massive pain, but not as much as a pain of not being able to eat!

This is a great idea.

My nurse friend has said that 'NHS hour' doesn't work for all the people who are shift workers. Although it's obviously a nice gesture.

I think it's a great idea.

I suggested earlier they should keep a basic amount of stock at the back of supermarkets and nhs staff give a list and it's picked for them and brought out.

But I also think they need to extend special opening to other keyworker groups.

Care workers
Education staff
Even the supermarket workers themselves.

It doesn't have to be daily. Teachers and school staff would be happy with an hour first thing Saturday as the issue is not being able to shop during the week.

If they did this they could then reallocate delivery slots to elderly and disabled and vulnerable only.

I believe there's so much more we could be doing that's so basic that would stop then complete cunts I heard in Tesco today - with their take out coffees - discussing what snacks they were going to get in case they were stuck inside for a few days

I actually looked like a weirdo just buying milk and GF bread!

Supermarket seen to be reserving an hour for vulnerable groups and nhs workers. Where's the common sense with that - nhs workers more likely to be carried due to their job.

Yes the NHS hour just does not work for many - one hour on a couple of mornings when staff are on shifts.

Genius!

Or, slightly radical thought, but I do live in a small city with a lot of empty shops, school buildings, sports centres etc. most of which are owned by the council or a big pension fund.

They set up a "key worker" Click and Collect and pop a couple of security guards on the door to check ID.

Our local Compassionate Community volunteer force is about to kick into action, if there are any more key-workers on here I would love to have some feedback (good or bad and other things to think about).

Interesting times.