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Original poster

Frontline staff taking annual leave

51 replies

NurseElspeth11 · 26/03/2020 22:38

Is it acceptable to take annual leave during the crisis? I had a holiday booked next month. I’d probably think I could rearrange the time off but reckon I need a bit of a break from the Wards . And with schools closed and OH work from home (self employed) i would like the time to be with our DCs. I’m leaving my post on one month for a different trust so I will not be able to claim back the time. Is it horribly selfish of me to use the annual leave?

OP posts:
Pat123dev · 27/03/2020 07:12

I'd take annual leave. Unless they've specificly asked you not to?

PawPatrolMakesMeDrink · 27/03/2020 07:14

Good god take the leave. Take it. Take it. Take it.

Dyrne · 27/03/2020 07:35

@newmumwithquestions I was going to say no as there are so many people doing things to keep you working

NHS staff are not robots. They need downtime as much as anyone else, probably even more in some cases. The danger of putting the NHS up on a pedestal is that it results in forgetting that the people who work for it are real people, who need to protect themselves to avoid burnout as much as anyone else.

Gammeldragz · 27/03/2020 07:39

I'm a nurse and have a week booked off at Easter. I'm still going to take it providing non of my colleagues are off sick. I feel like I need a break and some time with my family.
One of our Drs is off on AL this week (though he does keep coming in!) but another has cancelled hers next week, as we have a few off self isolating. However she lives alone and can't go away so says she'd rather be at work.
Do what's right for you. This isn't going away any time soon x

ScissorsBike · 27/03/2020 07:51

I would cancel .

ScissorsBike · 27/03/2020 07:53

For those of you talking about "burnout", that's not something that happens over a few weeks, FGS. That's just "working harder at you job for a few months".

oncemorewithfeeling99 · 27/03/2020 07:53

Leave has been cancelled where we are but that's probably a local decision around staffing. If you can then you should.

Dyrne · 27/03/2020 08:03

ScissorsBike

  1. You don’t know the last time the OP was able to take leave.

  2. Who are you to determine the “acceptable” amount of time to be working flat out before finding it stressful And needing a break? We’ve had people in years at work. No doubt you’d look down your nose at them too and call them soft?

  3. We’re coming out of flu season, a stressful and busy time anyway. People haven’t been sitting on their arse drinking margaritas until this pandemic started.

Dyrne · 27/03/2020 08:03

*tears, not years

cologne4711 · 27/03/2020 08:16

Take it, they won't want everyone taking it at the same time later in the year.

Borderterrierpuppy · 27/03/2020 08:19

I am also front line and on al at the moment. I am not due back until the third week of April but am half expecting a phone call at some point and will go in if I am needed. I am keeping bang up to date with policy change at home.

countrygirl99 · 27/03/2020 08:35

Take the leave. If it helps you, remember that we need you to take the leave so you can carry on.

Original poster
NurseElspeth11 · 27/03/2020 11:07

Thank you for the support x

OP posts:
JanewaysBun · 27/03/2020 11:29

No, you need to keep yourself healthy so you can work well in your new role z

Gingernaut · 27/03/2020 11:33

If you don't take booked annual leave, you'll probably not get to rearrange it and lose it before the financial year.

Take your annual leave. You'll need the break for the chaos to come.

2020newme · 27/03/2020 11:49

I think the advice across public services is for staff to take scheduled leave so that it doesn't all bunch up and everyone is off at the same time during the summer/before we lockdown again.

Theyrecomingtotakemeawayhaha · 27/03/2020 12:47

I don't think people realise that we are doing long shift and working a lot of extra hours,changing shifts at short notice to cover sickness so having some annual leave on the horizon helps to keep you going.
There maybe lots of leave changes though as we even out availability so people have breaks spread out since it is unlikely that any destination holidays will be happening anytime this year.
Annual leave won't be cancelled but we maybe asked to work it during the peak as us or our colleges get it from the patients.

gypsywater · 27/03/2020 12:48

Of course you should be able to take your leave. This is a basic employment right.

Gutterton · 27/03/2020 12:55

If they are attempting to flatten the curve it means that NHS will be at full pelt for many months to come just with CV - then there will be the back log of cancelled opps and other diseases/conditions that are exacerbated and escalated due to social distancing.

The NHS and it’s staff are going to be under incredible pressure until at least the end of the year.

That’s just the physical demands - the emotional burnout and trauma of what they see and do, getting ill themselves and losing family and friends along the way - will be horrific.

Pace yourself. This is an endurance extreme sport marathon - not a short sprint. Take care of your MH.

Orchidflower1 · 11/04/2020 19:03

@NurseElspeth11 please say you took the leave. You need it. You deserve it.

Troels · 11/04/2020 19:23

Take it. You've earned it. We all need a break.
I have annual leave to take, I was going to put in some requests for time off when I'm in on Monday. We all need to use our leave, I know one of my co workers will want more hours he can have mine while I stay home for a week or two.

RedToothBrush · 11/04/2020 20:18

BIL is an A & E consultant.

He's been on leave this week.

Take it.

Inferiorbeing · 11/04/2020 20:22

DP is booked off for this week as we had plans. There was no way he was cancelling. When is he meant to retake it?

Inferiorbeing · 11/04/2020 20:22

He is a paramedic btw

JustVisiting9 · 11/04/2020 20:29

I don't work for the NHS or do anything that is even 1% as important as those that do. But my workload has gone crazy due to CV. I just had a few days off and feel so much better.

If you possibly can, please take your leave.