I don't need you to clap for us.

[SuperlativeScrubs]

I don't need to be clapped for doing my job. There is a whole list of things that I need and clapping at the door isn't one of them.

What i need is to be given professional recognition with a payrise and better working conditions. All the therapists, physios and pharmacists need what I need. All the students aspiring to become nurses need to be given back their bursaries. All the HCA's and assistants working their asses off alongside us need payrises, professional regulation and recognition and better routes into nursing where a full time degree is impossible.

The forgotten Laboratory staff who do the actual testing for things like Covid-19, blood tests and other essential diagnostics (no, it isn't your doctor who does the actual diagnosing) need the same as us and their support staff need the same as ours. They could also do without people telling them they don't count as keyworkers because they "don't work on the wards"

The PA's, office workers, medical clerks, clinical coders, receptionists, who keep the tons and tons of paperwork in order for us because none of us have time need to be treated with far more respect, by the public and their colleagues. They are putting their health in danger too.

The hospitality staff who feed us all, the porters who move equipment and notes and all kinds of requests from department to department, the maintenance team who make sure everything from medical equipment to electricity to the ceilings aren't falling apart, the cleaners who are fighting the spread of infection from one part of hospital to the next, they need more pay and support and respect too. They are the forgotten ones. Without them the hospital would not be able to function safely.

And the mortuary staff, who at the end of the line are overloaded with infected patients while trying desperately to support the bereaved who can't even view their own loved ones during their grief, need to be respected day in day out instead of being told that there is not enough funding for them to run efficiently.

And you know what? These are things you damn well could be doing when there isn't a national heath crisis.

So instead of clapping, fight for our rights. Sign our petitions for better working conditions, effective PPE and pay. Stop overloading A&E for minor ailments. Stop treating the domiciliary and hospitality staff like they mean nothing. Stop yelling at receptionists doing their job. Stop telling Lab staff the hospital could run without them.

Stop clapping and actually do something to help, regardless of whether there is a pandemic or not.

A much better and more effective form of appreciation would be if people used the opportunity to demonstrate en masse, all over the country. Rather than clapping and sticking rainbows in our windows, maybe we could be protesting with signs and banners and slogans outside our homes demanding that our NHS is adequately funded and staff paid fairly. Boris Johnson certainly wouldn't be able to virtue signal by piggy backing onto that. I did suggest this on a Whatsapp group I'm in locally, but it seems that people are more interested in just posting on Facebook about how amazing they are for clapping for 60 seconds. Maximum brownie points for minimum brain power and effort.

Very close family friends have four frontline NHS workers in their household. One of them was telling me how she arrived home, exhausted, from a hellish night shift on PICU last week just in time to have to endure people's whooping and banging saucepans outside in the street when all she wanted was to sleep before she had to get up and do it all again. People are doing it to make themselves feel better and aren't actually considering the needs of NHS workers at all for the most part.

Not a night shift - a 12 hour day shift that should say

Well I am clapping you now, well said. I do not need to be clapped for doing my job.

Someone was letting off fireworks round here last night. Poor animals were terrified.

I think that part of the clapping becoming a regular thing is that neighbours come out and get some human contact by talking to each other for that short time. There are a lot of lonely people out there at the moment. It would be better if we could re-channel this need for connection into wave to your neighbours and check they are ok.

Op I've also emailed Jeremy Corbyn asking if your post could be shared by whatever means are available. I have had a response (extra to the automated response) so fingers crossed.

Thank you op. I have CV and rest really helps, when i am suffering with a stinking headache coughs and dizzy so resting in bed so my immune system can fight this then suddenly I'm woken from the sleep it took me ages to do due to being so uncomfortable that simply means it will take me that bit longer to get better = a strain on the NHS.

The clapping was enough but now my street has taken to banging drums, pots and pans, shouting, fireworks. It’s ridiculous, some people are genuinely in bed sick and this is not helping the NHS.

@MaidenMotherCrone

Good idea. Thank you

OP - I totally agree with you. Are there any specific petitions you have in mind that we can encourage people to sign? Just thinking concentrating on a few might achieve more in the long run and we can all start sharing and promoting them to support you all in a way that's actually productive.

wow. Pretty saddened to read some of the replies here. If you dont like it, stay inside, ignore it. Last night we clapped for all key workers. For our bin men, our postie, and the teachers in our primary looking after NHS workers kids. I voted Labour. Ive signed every petition going. My neighbour is an intensive care nurse and she came out last night, clapped along and was in tears, telling me (from a distance I might add) that she just didnt realise how much people cared, Would you really rather it go unnoticed? To be heading out to work listening to us non-important people sitting in our gardens drinking wine, not having a care in the world? Feel very strongly that your ingratitude will not help the cause long term.

Absolutely agree. Clapping was a nice gesture first time but now, where I live, it's been joined by fireworks going off so ok, thanks but that's enough now.. I've not joined in as I just don't see the point. My key worker husband has more need of real support from his employer, colleagues and myself every single day by trying to ensure he's protected and takes every precaution than clapping for five minutes once a week! As someone said, its fodder for social media. Put your claps where your hands are and demand greater recognition for these frontline workers not just for today but tomorrow, present and future :-)

The clapping reinforces the message that nhs, emergency services staff, research scientists and the like are in the job for altruistic reasons. That the reward of helping people is enough in itself.

I worked in cancer research for many years and got utterly pissed off. Why should I have to put up with shit pay and temporary contracts, no job security, after 8 years studying at uni, because the people with the purse strings think they can do it because i am driven by the desire to help people...

Nope. Nearly all my peers have left, or gone abroad to places where they get proper pay and contracts.

I don’t want praise for working in the nhs. I don’t want to be treated like a deity. I want fucking paid enough to live comfortably with a decent pension at the end.

Great post OP. I'm an NHS worker and I completely agree with you. Its lovely that people are grateful but the clapping is just cringey. As you said, lots of people didnt give a shit about NHS workers back in December when they voted Tory.

And THANK YOU for labouring the point that the NHS is made up of far more than just 'doctors and nurses'. Doctors and nurses do a terrific job, but they are supported by tens of thousands of people in much less exciting, but equally vital, roles

The clapping thing is all over our local fb group, encouraging more people to do it, naming the streets where people clapped, so by default identifying those who don't. It's now got to the point where people are talking about banging saucepans, letting off sirens & fireworks. Poor families who have young children & can't get them to sleep, and I feel for key workers on shifts too being woken by the noise.

I've signed several petitions & will keep doing that. Our MP is one of the Tory stronghold stranglehold and is utterly useless and ineffectual.

I respect and appreciate my NHS colleagues but I don’t participate in the clapping. It is such an odd thing to me, very cringy and I don’t want to be part of it. But I haven’t said anything as I understand why people want to do it and that’s ok
I understand the gesture... but I don’t want it either

Feel very strongly that your ingratitude will not help the cause long term.

This, along with all the other comments calling OP bitter etc, is quite telling. Why would you want or expect gratitude from NHS workers or other keyworkers for clapping for God's sake? Isn't it supposed to be about YOU showing gratitude for THEM? Comments like this just go to show that for lots of people (not all I'm sure, but lots) it is simply a way to fish for a pat on the back and do a spot of virtue signalling. If you genuinely wanted to show NHS workers that you cared and were grateful, you'd listen when one of them tells you that clapping is not helpful and you'd try to understand them. What you're saying is "I want to clap at 8pm every night and I don't care whether it's what you want or need because it's what I want to do". If this is your attitude, then you are doing it for yourself and not anybody else.

IWantT0BreakFree

Exactly!

@Iwantotbreakfree

If you genuinely wanted to show NHS workers that you cared and were grateful, you'd listen when one of them tells you that clapping is not helpful and you'd try to understand them. What you're saying is "I want to clap at 8pm every night and I don't care whether it's what you want or need because it's what I want to do". If this is your attitude, then you are doing it for yourself and not anybody else.

1. I have 2 sisters that are doctors. A brother that is a teacher. My neighbours on boths side are nurses (one in intensive care). They have all said the clapping meant a lot to them and they appreciated it. Ive listened - to THEM.
2. I have no plan to clap at 8pm every night - stop exaggerating.
3. If you (or the original poster) doesnt want to hear it - go inside. It lasts for a minute. Dont want to join in, fine, its not compulsory.
4. Its teaching my children about society. That the reason we are staying at home is for these people. It makes it tangible. It also gives my children a sense of community and togetherness.
5. I voted for Labour. I want the NHS to be funded properly. This is a way of showing this. I have been involved in local fundraising for both our local cancer hospital and the hospice. So its not like im rocking up clapping and doing nothing else.
6. The way to turn the tide to get the proper funding going forward is in displays like this to show the government how much we value the NHS. Along with other more direct action.
7. Main point is - its not hurting. SOME NHS staff and key workers appreciate it. If you dont want to participate or hear it, turn up your radio for 60 seconds.

good look getting your pay rise, the economy will be on its arse for the next 20 years after this fiasco...

luck*

The obvious way to get pay rises for these professions is to bring their pensions in line with the private sector, which will free up the resources for very good payrises

But the fact is a large majority of the people clapping think they are doing something to help when they aren't and their are thousands of practical things they could have done before this even happened

A large majority?? You know this how?
I appreciate what you're saying about lack of equipment and funding etc. but I don't agree with you about clapping.
People want to share their appreciation for the NHS and I think it's unfair that people are doing it just to look good and post it on Facebook - some people yes but you can't everyone with the same brush.
Some people who clapped may well have done something 'practical' how do you know they haven't.
'Clapping' draws the community together and reminds us we're all in this together, something that will bring great comfort to those who are really struggling, especially those who are isolating by themselves and are feeling very alone and forgotten.
Has it ever occurred to you that the clapping can be perceived as a form of protest. By seeing the outpouring support and appreciation for the nhs puts pressure on the government to improve conditions.
Clapping teaches children about the service of the nhs and how important and appreciated they are. These are the next generation of voters, surely you would want to instill a sense of respect and appreciation for the nhs. Do not forget children are suffering in this situation- it's all very strange for them and they may not understand and feel very frightened. Clapping gives them an opportunity to show their appreciation and brighten up their day.
Yes some people may have taken the nhs for granted before now, this does not mean they are being disingenuous by clapping.
I appreciate that some nhs staff may not be comfortable with the clapping but there are many who are. I'm closely related to a dr and a nurse who were both moved to tears.

Bumping for this weeks round of applause

Hid in my bedroom 😂

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