Jim's daughter's point of view

Posted: Fri Apr 3, 2020 7:53pm

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jimtaylor

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My daughter works for the NHS in Wales, and I thought some of you might be interested in comments she's made in her latest email to me. The following are her direct quotes. Excuse her language, but I think she's justified - Alex can edit this post if he wishes:

Some stores are operating a 1 way system that you have to follow irrespective of what you want, some things are out of stock because some selfish fucking dickheads panic bought stuff.

All elective procedures have been cancelled, all hospital visiting has been stopped, all clinics stopped, we’re trying not to cancel cancer appointments but they are not being done at our DGHs, we’re lucky here as there is a cancer hospital in Cardiff so people have to go there.

Some of our staff have said sod this I’m not coming to work, so we’ve had to start taking a harder line… if you are not needed in your usual role, and do not have a medical condition that requires isolation, then you either come to work to be deployed somewhere that needs help, or you take annual leave, or you take unpaid leave. But what you can’t do is sit at home with your feet up ignoring the world until this is over.

We are the NHS, we don’t get to decide we’re non-essential and stay at home.

Workload is manic, I’m one of the unlucky ones who needs to get involved in loads of the ‘emergency’ stuff but can’t stop the day job

We are getting through with random wittering about crap, sharing stupid pictures/videos, and a warped sense of humour.

This is a tsunami. We are at the stage where someone has sounded the alarm, the water has gone out, and we can see the wall getting closer and closer but nothing we do will get us out of the way.

Stay indoors, stay safe, fingers crossed.

We are the NHS, we are here. One day at a time.

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Posted: Fri Apr 3, 2020 8:16pm

Lancelot

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Posted: Fri Apr 3, 2020 8:16pm

Great insight/ perspective - we are all thankful.

Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 9:55am

Cheryl

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 9:55am

Thanks for sharing Jim, you must both be so worried but so very proud. Love to you all.

Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:19am

Dodster

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:19am

Interesting perspective and highlights that whilst some NHS staff are undoubtedly under the cosh and quite frankly heroic...the inconvenient truth is that the whole NHS in UK with 1.7 million employees are not. In that context, some of the hyperbole is misplaced. There are also significant concerns in the UK about treatment for any non-Covid 19 illnesses right now with absolutely no questioning from the media. For example there was an article in the papers this morning about the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary bed space normally being fully occupied but wards are now emptied in readiness for Covid 19 patients. The obvious question would surely be whats happened to all the patients....presumably they either needed to be in hospital or not? I think this displacement effect will become bigger news over coming weeks.

Another interesting feature of the Covid crisis is that police officers are being singled out for particular praise and perks such as priority shopping hours. Where we live in Tayside, Scotland, there is an obvious and unusual show of police presence tootling about in there wee cars but the harsh reality is that their workload must have reduced enormously. Think about it. Effects of lockdown.....no bar brawls at the weekend, fewer burglaries because everyone's at home, reduced shoplifting, very few RTAs, no football matches or large events to police. Again the narrative seems to be that police are stepping up in the face of the crisis whereas the reality is probably the exact opposite.

Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:48am

Dodster

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:48am

This post that was quoted has been deleted.

I think it's important to keep a sense of perspective in these difficult times. The NHS staff are doing the job they're paid to do and doubling salaries (which I guess was tongue in cheek) is going to make our valued NHS even less sustainable particularly given the constant pressures to expand the number and type of treatments. Don't misunderstand me. I have as much respect for NHS staff as the next person and have been the beneficiary of their services but I don't think the staff themselves want or expect excessive adulation.

Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:58am

r1121

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:58am

Dodster wrote on Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:19am:
Interesting perspective and highlights that whilst some NHS staff are undoubtedly under the cosh and quite frankly heroic...the inconvenient truth is that the whole NHS in UK with 1.7 million employees are not. In that context, some of the hyperbole is misplaced. There are also significant concer...

Read more...

...ns in the UK about treatment for any non-Covid 19 illnesses right now with absolutely no questioning from the media. For example there was an article in the papers this morning about the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary bed space normally being fully occupied but wards are now emptied in readiness for Covid 19 patients. The obvious question would surely be whats happened to all the patients....presumably they either needed to be in hospital or not? I think this displacement effect will become bigger news over coming weeks.
Another interesting feature of the Covid crisis is that police officers are being singled out for particular praise and perks such as priority shopping hours. Where we live in Tayside, Scotland, there is an obvious and unusual show of police presence tootling about in there wee cars but the harsh reality is that their workload must have reduced enormously. Think about it. Effects of lockdown.....no bar brawls at the weekend, fewer burglaries because everyone's at home, reduced shoplifting, very few RTAs, no football matches or large events to police. Again the narrative seems to be that police are stepping up in the face of the crisis whereas the reality is probably the exact opposite.

As a front line police officer in the UK I am quite upset by this. Our demands are different not less, especially as other agencies are more and more unavailable, mental health crisis, social services, local authorities etc, and of course we have to now police the new enforcement powers. We of course like the NHS are human and also get ILL, so our numbers too are lower than normal. Many of the homes we go into are self isolating or have the virus, domestics are more common unfortunately, sudden deaths for the virus are common regretfully but if they happen at home police still need to attend. We deal with the most vulnerable in society who will spit and cough on us for pleasure sometimes. Unfortunately our role will be never be popular with some members of the community, but I assure everyone in the UK we are as busy as ever on the front line supporting our NH# colleagues trying to keep people safe.

Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:03am

Villas

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:03am

r1121 wrote on Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:58am:
As a front line police officer in the UK I am quite upset by this. Our demands are different not less, especially as other agencies are more and more unavailable, mental health crisis, social services, local authorities etc, and of course we have to now police the new enforcement powers.&nb...

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...sp; We of course like the NHS are human and also get ILL, so our numbers too are lower than normal. Many of the homes we go into are self isolating or have the virus, domestics are more common unfortunately, sudden deaths for the virus are common regretfully but if they happen at home police still need to attend. We deal with the most vulnerable in society who will spit and cough on us for pleasure sometimes. Unfortunately our role will be never be popular with some members of the community, but I assure everyone in the UK we are as busy as ever on the front line supporting our NH# colleagues trying to keep people safe.

Fully Concur!

V

Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:26am

Dodster

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:26am

r1121 wrote on Sat Apr 4, 2020 10:58am:
As a front line police officer in the UK I am quite upset by this. Our demands are different not less, especially as other agencies are more and more unavailable, mental health crisis, social services, local authorities etc, and of course we have to now police the new enforcement powers.&nb...

Read more...

...sp; We of course like the NHS are human and also get ILL, so our numbers too are lower than normal. Many of the homes we go into are self isolating or have the virus, domestics are more common unfortunately, sudden deaths for the virus are common regretfully but if they happen at home police still need to attend. We deal with the most vulnerable in society who will spit and cough on us for pleasure sometimes. Unfortunately our role will be never be popular with some members of the community, but I assure everyone in the UK we are as busy as ever on the front line supporting our NH# colleagues trying to keep people safe.

Absolutely didn't mean to cause offence and I'm not anti-police in any way. I take all your points on board but the balance of our respective views will rest on the delta between reduced demands on police time that I'm suggesting versus the additional demands on police time that you're suggesting. There will also be significant differences across regions.....the Met will have more pressures than less urban areas....Derbyshire Police seem to have some time on their hands. In Tayside....99.82% of the population have not been diagnosed with CV19 and 1 fine has been issued for breaches of the Coronavirus guidelines/rules/law. I fully accept that front line policing is a difficult and challenging job and that officers are facing additional risks but equally, I hope you would accept that my hypothesis that police offers are not as busy as usual in all areas of the country is plausible.

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:42am

Villas

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:42am

Dodster wrote on Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:26am:
Absolutely didn't mean to cause offence and I'm not anti-police in any way. I take all your points on board but the balance of our respective views will rest on the delta between reduced demands on police time that I'm suggesting versus the additional demands on police time that you're suggesting...

Read more...

.... There will also be significant differences across regions.....the Met will have more pressures than less urban areas....Derbyshire Police seem to have some time on their hands. In Tayside....99.82% of the population have not been diagnosed with CV19 and 1 fine has been issued for breaches of the Coronavirus guidelines/rules/law. I fully accept that front line policing is a difficult and challenging job and that officers are facing additional risks but equally, I hope you would accept that my hypothesis that police offers are not as busy as usual in all areas of the country is plausible.

I agree.

1. The demands differ (town by town, city, county).

I disagree on your other points as:

2. the work-load in all services (law enforcement incl.) has increased. These are facts, not opinion.

V

Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:56am

Dodster

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Posted: Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:56am

Villas wrote on Sat Apr 4, 2020 11:42am:
I agree.
1. The demands differ (town by town, city, county).

Read more...

I disagree on your other points as:
2. the work-load in all services (law enforcement incl.) has increased. These are facts, not opinion.
V

Thanks Villas....I love facts and the evidence that underpins them. Can you provide some evidence that law enforcement workloads have increased?