How have you shown your appreciation for the NHS this year? Share your artwork or stories with Uber - £200 voucher to be won

[CeriMumsnet]

This year, NHS workers have been working harder than ever in order to keep us safe and well. Doctors, nurses and support staff have isolated themselves from their loved ones and put their own health on the line to go above and beyond in the fight against Covid-19. Uber is celebrating their hard work by offering free rides and eats to NHS workers from 23rd - 27th December, and would love for you to join them in that celebration by sharing the artwork that you and your family have created this year in appreciation and support for the NHS.





Here’s what Uber has to say: "This year has been hard for a lot of people. But especially for those working for the NHS & HSC. As a small gesture of thanks from all of us, Uber is committing two free rides and a free meal to these workers this Christmas.

We loved seeing how many people displayed their messages of thanks to health service workers through drawings and artworks this year. We’d like to encourage everyone to show how grateful we all are by sharing these here and creating more of these wonderful messages of support.

And if you’d like us to share these drawings or messages directly with NHS workers this Christmas, just post it to Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #GratefulUK. We’ll find it, and do the rest."

So, did you paint a rainbow in the window at the start of lockdown? Perhaps your children were set an NHS themed arts and crafts homeschooling project? Or will the NHS be featured in your DCs festive drawings or your Christmas cards this year?

If art isn’t your thing, we’d love to hear how you’ve shown your appreciation for the NHS in a different way. Maybe you were eagerly lined up to Clap for Carers every Thursday evening or perhaps you volunteered in your local area? Have you encouraged your children to think about the work that the NHS does?

All who post on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Insight T&Cs apply

[CathBookworm]

I do my bit by sticking to the rules, not going out apart from a daily walk. I didn't clap, but agree with others, I will continue to not vote Conservative!

[TheDeckchairGardener]

Im sorry but I don’t see how sticking a rainbow in my window or clapping on Thursdays helps show my appreciation for the NHS. However, I have followed all of the rules, kept my child off school as even though we are key workers, my husband and I work opposite shifts and therefore do not need school for childcare. We have all been taking vitamin D and so far 🤞we have avoided catching COVID.

I had a baby this year and even though my antenatal care was ‘patchy’, my birth was a good experience and I sent an email expressing my gratitude to the midwife that delivered my DD.

[CeriMumsnet]

Thanks all for your contributions to this discussion. The winner is @Joysutty. Congratulations!

[alshareif]

There were some thank you cards I had, and I knew of some people who could have used with a pick me up to get them through the horrors they had witnessed.

[salemaxo]

I know it's not much, but I've been encouraging people on forums and such to not go out unless they absolutely need to. Only when we all do our part, can we actually help lower the burden on the NHS.

[saffysabir]

I did clap initially, but I felt it redundant and I felt I was helping more by not being outside unless it was necessary.

[ruqiya1965]

I sent thank you cards to those I knew personally and made sure to listen to all guidelines.

[Florida123]

One of my neighbours set up a regular baking delivery to our local hospital, and the bulk of residents on our road got involved. It was a way of appreciating all staff including clinical, cleaning and security staff. Great sense of community spirit!

[RACHELSMITH45]

Me and my children created a lovely picture which still sits in her window now thanking all the NHS as well as key workers.

We also took part in a community project where we all created our own scarecrows dedicating them to our NHS and key workers. It was amazing to be part of this!

[lillypopdaisyduke]

We live in a bus route, and have a lot of footfall, and still have our rainbow pictures (coloured in again after fading) in our window.
I feel that we did this in the first lockdown - and need to start again with our rainbows to keep the nations spirits up - we owe the NHS staff so much.

[Livelifetotheful]

Love the pictures etc above and round where I live . I just went to work , scared , but not as at risk as many . Never would vote Tory cos they will not sustain the NHS .

[welshmardymum]

We clapped, social distanced, followed the rules etc etc

[MummyL1411]

After I had to have a short stay in hospital at the start of December I made some cookies at home and hand delivered them with a card to the ward I was on. Really just wanted to let them know that I really appreciated all their care and dedication.

[pushchairprincess]

I have stayed at home, had our summer holiday in the back garden (hiring a hot tub which was great) I kept my family safe making masks for my parents and grandparents, made my own hand sanitiser when you could not buy it - and distributed to my grandparents and parents.
I looked after my niece for my sister-in-law who has been working on Covid wards.
When I go to the supermarket I go alone, masks and gloves on, and put out a post on my local facebook support group to see if there is anyone struggling for groceries - I pop a few items into the foodbank basket to help those who I don't know, who are struggling.

[ohdannyboy]

Good thread with some very emotional posts re the NHS - as we are in the middle of the second (and worst) wave of this virus I am not a NHS worker, but i am a mum, daughter, granddaughter neighbour and friend. My phone is always on for a chat, request for help.
I have clapped, donated to Sir Tom. kept my family safe at home, shop on-line for not only myself, but parent and grandparents, dropping off what they want, taking orders, and keeping a home order slot open a week in advance.
I am not a keyworker, NHS angel, but I have done everything in my capability to help protect those close to me, to help prevent them getting ill.
The rainbow on my house wall has faded, the clapping has stopped, but I continue to support and prevent infection for those close to me.

[WalkingInTheAir13]

@OrangeSamphire, @Desnol and @Dugee

I could not agree with all you more! This Sainthood of the NHS is beyond all reason..
Let me first say that the staff working with Covid patients deserve every single thanks and accolade given to them. But the the rest ... well..

I was admitted via A&E with a spinal/head injury four weeks ago and the nursing care was the bare minimum. The bed was never made or changed, just left like a pile of rags. But the the very worse thing was the NOISE! The nurses were shrieking, shouting across the room or in the corridor to each other. No effort was made to quietly wheel metal trolleys as they went clanking around. Rest is key to recovery but it was impossible.

All this time, I had an excruciating headache and spinal pain but despite medication, each sound felt like a bullet through the head I begged one of the doctors to allocate a private room for me but he said they were all reserved for possible Covid admissions.
I could not be transferred to my local private hospital apparently for the same reason. I discharged myself - had I stayed, I believe I would have become very ill indeed.

Noise is one aspect of nursing that has no bearing on financial cuts. If one works in an office, for example, you do not yell loudly across the room to your colleagues or shriek with laughters all the time.

Finally, I don't believe ANY political party can resolve the demise of the NHS - it has changed beyond all recognition since its creation.

It's political dynanmite to suggest that everyone should pay a little something for their treatment and no party exists with that courage to say so

[Aspiringmatriarch]

Why are we so weird about the NHS? It's a health service, every developed country has one, surely? Ok ours is free at point of delivery but still paid for by taxes, and care ranges from excellent to sub-standard. Genuinely, why have we gone so weird about it? I'm talking about pre-pandemic although obviously it's reached new heights in the past year. Is it because we'd rather make sentimental noises than look at funding it properly?

[Gooseygoosey12345]

I thanked them by making hundreds of cotton ear savers for their masks so that they no longer rubbed. I also made sure my family followed guidelines!

[VividImagination]

We stayed home as requested to protect the NHS and made sure the neighbours had everything they needed.

[OrangeSamphire]

I made an extra effort to check in with my friend who is a NHS ICU nurse. It has been a full on year for her.

But the rest of the NHS, hmm. Well, let me start with the paed ward nurses who sat around in huddled doing sweet FA to help my daughter when she was in their ward for weeks and weeks during the first lockdown. But they were alright Jack, because the ward was emptier than it had ever been but they were fully staffed and seemingly having a ball.

I will not bow down to this cult of NHS that we seem to have created. It’s a public service paid for by taxpayers. The principle of free at point of care delivery I support 100% but the NHS needs a big culture change before I can get enthusiastic about thanking its staff.

[Sid98]

Staying home and only going out when needed and i have donated food supplies to my local hospitals to thank the doctors/nurses

[Doobydoo]

We have also appreciated the work that Nurses and Carers do in Care and Nursing Homes....which were pretty much abandoned by NHS/ GPs etc in the first wave in March

[Doobydoo]

My family and I have not behaved like idiots. We have been mindful and respectful and careful.

[spaceghetto]

We painted a sign on our window (then wished we would have just done a poster instead) 🙄

[PashleyB]

We made a rainbow, followed the rules and clapped. I think the tip of writing to pals or the chief exec of a trust when you receive great care is a really good one.