Does anyone find sobbing nurses etc in The News every night, in any way helpful?

[Miljea]

.... or does this footage rapidly lose its impact?

I sort of feel 'Yes, we know, and if the first months of footage failed to shock and awe, this won't!'. If anything, all it does is to numb people.

Ditto the non-contextualised rolling statistics.

Do you think it's an actual strategy, to bombard us with this? If it is, I fear it's not working.

FTR I'm coalface, Covid facing, full PPE NHS, tho not ICU.

But I have got up and personal with Covid that is killing people. Including in ICU.

But I don't think the News' blanket slightly blurry footage of HCPs all kitted up going about their business, interspersed with interviews with sobbing nurses- really helps. I have even heard the 'for God's sake, it's their job' remarks (at the hairdressers, when they were briefly open, TV on).

That person was argued with by her mate, but I do wonder whether too much of this sort of coverage makes people weary of it.

@TurquoiseBaubles

I don't believe the op is working in the NHS if she asserts that all nurses treating Covid patients are issued with FFP3 masks. They simply aren't; most have paper masks and aprons still. It's only recently that dd's trust have allowed them to wear scrubs rather than uniform.

If your union is really as on the ball about this, why haven't they forced the NHS guidelines to be changed?

It's the utter ignorance shown on threads like this that pisses me off.
All the bollocks "I'm a front line worker, I do my job properly, I wouldn't crack up, I wouldn't cry, etc etc" ad fucking nauseum.

Er- I haven't asserted that, have I?

I suggested that your union needs to up its game if that's what's happening in your area.

MY union it totally 'on the ball' with this. None of its members can be forced to wear a paper mask if they want to wear a FFP3 mask.

They aren't a charity, 'forcing the NHS guidelines to be changed' (for the benefit of all, presumably); they uphold the rights of their paid-up membership.

And I'm a 'coal-face' worker (sorry to the poster who objected to the signifier that indicates I'm not the Diversity and Inclusion Training Officer, or whatever, I actually touch Covid patents on ventilators with heavy viral loads).

I do try to do my job properly. In 35 years, a couple of patients have got to me, as it would be weird if they hadn't; but I feel the 'sobbing nurses' are being manipulated. I believe that I would refuse to allow any 'catch in my voice' moments, in interview, to be broadcast.

You think the news crews come in and tell the staff to start acting upset?

Out of interest have you ever spent time in a print media office? Or taken part in radio? Or been involved in a "factual" TV programme?

Not having been there I obviously can't know what happened with this particular report, but I've learned with experience that these things aren't always as clear cut as they appear

That doesn't mean there aren't any problems and that some staff aren't distraught of course ... only that the real situation isn't necessarily what you're seeing

@WetJan

Not to derail the thread *@Miljea* but I really love working long days. My work life balance is much better than in my previous 9-5 role and I get two set days a week at home with my DD. They work for some people.

I've already pretty much derailed my own thread! :-)

I was quite surprised at the number of coalface HCPs who really like long shifts but fewer.

But this was mentioned by a poster who's DD was on Night 4 of 14 hour shifts and was evidently on her knees, exhausted and emotional.

They aren't working for her!

And, making them 'the norm', can remove any alternative (bar ENT OP...), thus shedding many, many good staff; but, being 55, don't want to, or can't- do 14 hour night shifts any more.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

You think the news crews come in and tell the staff to start acting upset?

Out of interest have you ever spent time in a print media office? Or taken part in radio? Or been involved in a "factual" TV programme?

Not having been there I obviously can't know what happened with this particular report, but I've learned with experience that these things aren't always as clear cut as they appear

That doesn't mean there aren't any problems and that some staff aren't distraught of course ... only that the real situation isn't necessarily what you're seeing

Please elaborate. I'm fascinated!

What isn't necessarily 'what I'm seeing'?

In the filming you can see they waited for the upset. It could have cut after speaking so I’d say there was a fair bit of decision making to get the shot

It reminds me to keep towing the line

And

To be thankful for nurses

Not at all helpful , we have had almost a year of the same images , i think people will just become desensitised to them.
We all know the pressures the nhs are under , but its the same in other fields also who don't get the recognition.
I have no trust or faith in the media ,
but i know that the doom and gloom we are being bombarded with is not helping me .
Consequently i no longer watch or listen , my coping strategy.

What isn't necessarily 'what I'm seeing'?

The reality of the "story" being reported on, Miljea - that story may or may not be happening somewhere, but it's not necessarily what you're seeing on your TV, reading in your paper or whatever

It's not always easy to spot, but along with others you'll sometimes see a technique where the words are close enough to the images for you to believe it's a direct commentary, but are actually saying something else. Or a series of images/comments may contain fully accurate ones along with others that aren't, resulting in an overall impression very different to the reality

Then of course there's the downright dishonest "set-up", but forttunately not too many resort to that ... they don't need to because there are better ways which avoid a report to the regulators

In the filming you can see they waited for the upset

It's called "the pause", Marsha... those crucial extra seconds of silence left at the end of a reply, which can sometimes produce an even better story than the one the reporter went for

YANBU. More coverage of people whose lives have been destroyed by endless lockdowns would offer some balance.

There are also actors in the news. That woman that was supposed to be the first to have her covid jab. She had the same Xmas sweater and Cardigan on for her first and second shot.

@McSilkson

Seeing as "Covid denier" has become the latest buzzword on here - the thing to disavow at all costs - could somebody please define what that actually is for me? A genuine request.

Someone who believes that what we are told about Covid isn't real. Some believe that this is a conspiracy where lock downs etc are used to create a new totalitarian world Others believe that it's flu and hospitals are empty. They believe that there's another agenda including microchips in the vaccine so that Bill Gates can track you. If you want to do some research try reading about QAnon and The Great Awakening. As per of The Plan, Donald Trump was supposed to be re-elected as president and sort out all that is wrong with the world like some God like figure 🤣 but Biden has been sworn in so it's a good one to watch.

Maybe in your newspaper. I just looked online to check and for the second jag she is shown in a grey striped top.
.

@NeedWineNow

Actually I find it appalling that people are dying and loved ones aren't allowed in to say goodbye, yet every news report has a camera crew inside a hospital getting close up and personal interviewing anyone they can telling us all how bad it is.

This .

@Graciebobcat

No, I thought it was vile and have resolved not to watch the news again for a very long time, I don't watch it very often anyway. There was absolutely no balance and it felt like propaganda.

I think a lot about all the people who don't have jobs now or facing losing their incomes, living in fear of losing their homes, businesses, savings. I worry about our children, their education is suffering. Its truly horrific but not hardly mentioned. Isolation is devastating peoples' mental and physical health but its never talked about. I feel manipulated, and helpless.

Its truly horrific but not hardly mentioned

How hard do you think it should be mentioned? I think it is mentioned sufficiently.

We all know the score, most people want to escape from it for a bit.

HPC here - for 28 years. What boils my piss is that at one time and another and definitely in some areas there has been issues where hospitals are full, on full alert and no beds. As one example, in mental health, a patient can be sent miles (80+) from their homes or an A&E can have have Ambulances stacked outside. Basically the UK has not enough beds, HCP’s or community services in normal times so why the wall to wall coverage now? I mean I know there’s a pandemic an all but really there has been a pandemic of ineptitude with regards to providing good, person centred, properly focused and well resourced care for years now.

@Miljea hi op fellow frontline here I totally agree. I actually left ITU about 6 years ago as in one week I had 3 long days in a row and on all 3 shifts had withdrawal of care patients who died very quickly when switching off their support and I just wasn’t affected by it-I had seen it that much it was just routine ‘my job’. So I left as that wasn’t the sort of nurse I wanted to be I want to care and to some extent be affected by what I’m seeing as that is a family’s world breaking and that should affect us as humans. I worry the same thing is happening to the public they now see and hear it all the time so it just stops having any impact. My big issue with the whole management of the pandemic is how desensitised and dehumanised it has all become. It’s now normal for funeral to be invite only and not be able to comfort a grieving person, it’s now normal for people with terminal illness to not get to complete ‘bucket lists’ and see family. It’s now normal to break bad news over the phone etc etc I could go one. I cry for the loss of humanity. 10 years ago I love doing 3 long days a week it worked for me as a young single person and would have been the one fighting for it, but now I’m older a bit more knackered from years on the wards and a bit more battered by life the thought of 3 long days in a row makes me want to vomit. The NHS is so so broken but it’s not purely lack of funding that’s broken it, it’s years of running on good will (which has all but gone) but fundamentally it is not fit for purpose it was designed for cradle to grave basic health care of a much smaller less diverse population but that is a whole other thread.

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

HPC here - for 28 years. What boils my piss is that at one time and another and definitely in some areas there has been issues where hospitals are full, on full alert and no beds. As one example, in mental health, a patient can be sent miles (80+) from their homes or an A&E can have have Ambulances stacked outside. Basically the UK has not enough beds, HCP’s or community services in normal times so why the wall to wall coverage now? I mean I know there’s a pandemic an all but really there has been a pandemic of ineptitude with regards to providing good, person centred, properly focused and well resourced care for years now.

Excellent post from someone who knows.

ICU nurse here, I agree

They are just using HCPs for a news story, for a profit

If the media likes health care workers we wouldn’t have crap pay, crap conditions and a totally shite situation with covid that could’ve been avoided

Momunterary "Imagine having to actually live that, shift after shift. I understand the reason for debating how helpful or otherwise these reports might be but I'm astonished at the lack of empathy for HCPs in many posts on this thread."

Have you not spotted how many posts on this thread are actually written by HCPs who are sick of the media portrayals of Covid-in-ICU on TV??

I feel it is a softening up. Look at what we threw at the NHS in its hour of need! (as opposed to our record of trying to flog it off to the highest bidder a year ago... that thing).

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'It needs to be seen and these people have been working so hard and are only human.They are not used to people dying in such large numbers.'

Yes it needs to be shown. There are too many head in the sand 'but me civil liberties' types who think it is people dying peacefully who are probably ancient and at and end of life stage anyway. It isn't, critical care is totally overwhelmed with often younger patients. If it takes a sobbing nurse to make one person think about not mixing households then it's worth it.

Sorry it spoils your telly viewing op. Maybe try a nice little mini series on Netflix?

Nightafternightafternightafternight.

This evening was The Royal Derby's turn.

Totally agree op, I have become desensitised by it all.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Of course, it's upsetting. But we need to be reminded of just how serious this situation is. Lots of us complain and moan about the inconvenience, but it is nothing compared to the situation in our hospitals at the moment. We need a reminder to help us resolve to keep following the rules.'

Excafly. Vaccinations under way and infection rates falling thanks to restrictions nothing else. Yet already we have people demanding 'road maps' out when it is still a crisis situation in hospitals.

I hope they continue to have icu reports so people realise it is and will continue to be a very serious issue for a while yet. Ram it down people's necks! it's the only thing some people take notice of.

I'm sorry, but you appear to have no understanding of basic human psychology.

'Ramming' anything down anyone's throat never makes them more compliant. Ever.

At its least, it gives rise to Compassion Fatigue. At worst, a weird human trait, the kick back.

Alliscalm "And if you are not moved by experienced consultants, doctors and nurses breaking down then shame on you"

Nightafternightafternight?

It was The Royal Derby's turn tonight.

No, I'm not 'moved', I see exploitation.

How 'moved' were you when nurses' pensions were being blamed by the red tops for the 2008 financial crises?