topic Re: Applause for the rest in The Round Table

Applause for the rest

mustard-tree — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 21:38:42 GMT

Yes, the NHS deserves all the applause it gets, but lets not forget the others

In particular, our wonderful posties and couriers, who keep our purchases coming and boost morale.

Supermarket and other food shop staff who keep us fed

Probably a lot of others behind the scenes and some working from home

Re: Applause for the rest

suzieseaside — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 22:04:22 GMT

Yes, well done to all the others keeping things going 👏

Pharmacists too (as well as food shops) and off licences!

Re: Applause for the rest

astrologica — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 06:28:29 GMT

And our refuse collectors!👋👋👋. Without them we would be up to our ears in rubbish.

Re: Applause for the rest

fallen-archie — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:11:23 GMT

Astro talking rubbish, I won’t hear of it! I think we should clap for all those who normally infest our A&E departments who instead are staying away for fear of catching something😇

Re: Applause for the rest

upthecreekyetagain — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 16:51:43 GMT

Like so many others you seem to have missed out care workers, both those working in care homes and even more so the domiciliary care workers.

They've just made available testing for those care workers exhibiting symptoms but there is still a shortage of "high risk" PPE meaning that if a care worker is infected, but not exhibiting symptoms, they could well pass on the virus to fellow workers, residents and/or those they are visiting in their own homes.

My wife is a care worker in a home for adults with both physical and mental disabilities - thankfully none of the residents have gone down with Covid19 but should any of the staff bring it into the home then there is absolutely nothing to stop it spreading to all the clients and staff.

Another example of how care workers are often ignored occurred the other day. My wife got a call from a colleague who was in tears - she had just visited one of her clients in his house and he had no milk, bread, eggs and other bits and pieces. She said she would pop down to Tesco's before her next call to get him some. When she arrived at Tesco's there were two queues, one for the general public and one for NHS employees - she joined the latter queue but when checked she was told to leave the queue, it was NHS only. She now had a choice, leave her client without the food she'd promised to get him or be late for her next client, (which can be distressing for them). She decided to wait in the queue so as not to let her client down. These workers get paid for the time they are in the clients homes and that's it.

For many years there has been a big shortage of workers in the care sector which is hardly surprising considering that most of the openings are rewarded with the minimum wage or possibly just above. I really find it amazing that so many do do this work.