Food banks

[Rachel8967]

Struggling to make ends meet with my current salary and am struggling to afford food with my energy bills and rent costs. I’m feeling really embarrassed. Has anyone accessed food banks? How do they work?

Getting an additional job isn’t an option. I already work full time in the NHS with antisocial hours. I could potentially get a different job but after putting in so many years at university and accumulating huge amounts of student debt I can’t believe I’m in this position :(.

^there (oops)

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/quarter-of-hospitals-have-set-up-food-banks-for-nurses-wnm0k65j8

"One in four hospitals has set up food banks for nurses as the cost of living crisis causes an “exodus” of NHS staff to better-paid jobs in supermarkets and hospitality.

Two in three hospital bosses reported a “significant or severe” impact from staff quitting the service for better pay in pubs, restaurants and shops."

Stick at it. Horrendous now but worth it in the long term.

Would medical housing be an option? I know when I worked in the nhs some drs lived in staff accommodation on site. They had family set ups too. It was good cause it meant no commuting or parking costs and also there was a subsidised crèche on site.

It used to be a thing but sadly they got rid of on site accommodation more than 10 years ago now as part of cutting costs in the NHS.

We get charged for parking at work. I think the car park belongs to a private company rather than the hospital itself

I’m really sorry you’re in this position.
Don’t feel embarrassed. You are certainly not alone

www.google.com/amp/s/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/doctor-says-im-struggling-live-25326473.amp

I'm so sorry you're struggling right now. It's shameful we have junior doctors/nhs staff in positions like yours. In addition to advice others have given, I've also heard really good things about CAP (Christians Against Poverty). They help anyone you deffo don't need to be a Christian

There is no reason to feel embarrassed - all sorts of people need to use food banks for all sorts of reasons.

www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/ is a website that lists many independent foodbanks.

What childcare provision are you using? How far away do you live re driving/parking?

People know how much junior doctors are paid. £29k is not a low starting salary. Minimum wage is significantly less.

You are in a good job on decent wages. What specifically is it that is causing you to run out of money each month? Is there anything you can change? Have you done a benefits check to see if you qualify for anything? You don’t mention a partner - do you have one?

It’s worth hanging in there because your earning potential is huge - you need to focus on how best to weather this particular storm

It's shameful that anyone in our society needs food banks, NHS staff are not some special class of people.

Nobody deserves to be in that position, regardless of profession or otherwise.

I'm sorry I thought you'd finished your foundation and were onto your next year (which is £40k)

It's AWFUL you're in this position

There are lots of helpful and supportive posts on here with some good links for you to follow up.

Wishing you all the best :)

My starting salary is 29K after 5 years of medical school accumulating huge amounts of debt. i think a lot of people don’t know the reality

I think people do understand that for a couple of years at the very beginning of your career, your earnings are not amazing. This is not unusual for professional careers, and you will be able to access enough credit to top up your salary to a comfortable level because banks are very aware of your excellent long term earning potential.

I see you have childcare costs - do you have a partner also?

100% agree... perhaps my post was not worded very well. Obviously no one in any job should need a food bank.

Surely it's worth talking to your work. If things are so bad you're considering leaving surely the NHS would do something like move you to a hospital trust you can get hospital accommodation in.

How many children? how old? Have you a partner?

Definitely check your benefits - I’ve known medics and vets claiming TC/UC. Also the junior medic single mums I know “teamed up” to provide childcare for each other.

good luck - worth it in the end and you won’t be tied to a deanery.

Apologies, I assumed from the OP that you were single and childfree, so could live in a houseshare/studio which should be manageable along with food/basic bills on £29k pa just about anywhere.

Obviously with DC housing and everything else costs more. But you're very likely to be entitled to UC unless you have a partner earning well, so definitely something to look into.

I think hospital accommodation may not be a possibility for them. It was all taken away in 2008.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2008/jul/09/nhs.health

With one DC, then a one bedroom place would be doable (hell lots of people do it with multiple DC). Can you house share with a colleague who is in a similar situation?

Why are you driving to work? I'm guessing this is childcare related, but if you are somewhere where housing costs are this high then what about public transport or car sharing?

Have you asked your hospital if they can provide any help? Are there any bursaries or funds you can tap into? Junior doctor roles are so set up for graduates straight out of Uni without any ties that it can be difficult to find out what help there is if you do have children etc.
Also, is it wise to have given up your BMA membership? Don't you need that for insurance?
As for locum work, rather than doing it at your hospital, can you do it elsewhere? What about a private hospital. A couple of friends used to do overnight shifts in a private hospital where they got to sleep in a nice room and were rarely disturbed.

I'm shocked, horrified tbh that a JUNIOR DOCTOR is here asking about foodbanks. Makes me want to cry and rage.
How fucked up is this country?

@Rachel8967 there's a whole charity sector now devoted to food, depending on location, google 'food waste charities near me' as well as 'community pantries/fridge', as PP have explained, many are easier to access than actual foodbanks (and food is often fresher), some charge a small fee. Your LA may have a list of charities offering food and toiletries, some are running cost of living campaigns, theres dedicated funding going through the LAs. I can understand your reticence to ask for help, but you absolutely deserve it.

I'm shocked, horrified tbh that a JUNIOR DOCTOR is here asking about foodbanks. Makes me want to cry and rage.

Well calm yourself, because junior doctors are doing just fine in the knowledge that they will be very well paid over the course of their career. It is unclear in this case what is really going on but if you think for a moment about the majority of the population who are less well placed financially than the OP and yet have no need of food banks, it will be fairly clear that a lot is going unsaid here.

How fucked up is this country?

Well given that many people will never reach the earning potential of a junior doctor's starting salary for various reason, I would say your anger is somewhat misdirected. Junior doctors are not poorly paid, and no they are not the only ones who have done long degrees either.

OP's take home won't be £29k though. She'll get a massive whack taken out for student loans. And could live in a costly area.
OP, I'm guessing your take home is around £1800 per month.
Can you apply for UC?