Nurses and our NHS

[Sylar]

Not a self pity post but to give some context, I've been in University Hospital Wishaw the past couple of days diagnosed with pneumonia and tachycardia, kept in for observation of a sky high fever and heart rate. Home now and recovering, thankfully.

However, my primary takeaway observation from the experience is how absolutely undervalued and utterly incredible the NHS nurses are - it's certainly true at UHW, and I'd believe it to be true at other facilities too. The power and nature of work these incredible people take on for what is ultimately a pittance of pay is extraordinary. Not just the dark side of personal care in dealing with bodily fluids etc, but the entitlement, belligerence, and abuse that they are subject to frequently and they deal with it all with professionalism, altruism, humour and kindness is something that absolutely amazed me.

I know during Covid-19 etc we 'clapped for our heroes', and I'm under no illusion from knowing people in the profession just how hard they work that this has always been true - but seeing it first hand, so consistently and in a range of different scenarios I really have a profound appreciation for the conditions these incredible people work under.

Quadruple every one of their salaries as far as I'm concerned. They deserve to be properly compensated for the great they do.

[Trinity Hibee]

Not a self pity post but to give some context, I've been in University Hospital Wishaw the past couple of days diagnosed with pneumonia and tachycardia, kept in for observation of a sky high fever and heart rate. Home now and recovering, thankfully.

However, my primary takeaway observation from the experience is how absolutely undervalued and utterly incredible the NHS nurses are - it's certainly true at UHW, and I'd believe it to be true at other facilities too. The power and nature of work these incredible people take on for what is ultimately a pittance of pay is extraordinary. Not just the dark side of personal care in dealing with bodily fluids etc, but the entitlement, belligerence, and abuse that they are subject to frequently and they deal with it all with professionalism, altruism, humour and kindness is something that absolutely amazed me.

I know during Covid-19 etc we 'clapped for our heroes', and I'm under no illusion from knowing people in the profession just how hard they work that this has always been true - but seeing it first hand, so consistently and in a range of different scenarios I really have a profound appreciation for the conditions these incredible people work under.

Quadruple every one of their salaries as far as I'm concerned. They deserve to be properly compensated for the great they do.

100%. It takes a special kind of person to be in these jobs and it’s a disgrace they aren’t treated better given the hard shifts they undertake. We’ll all need them at some point so it’s in our interest to make the job as appealing as possible. Sadly, that isn’t the case and I see this first hand through my work.

[superfurryhibby]

Nurses in the NHS and community are most worthy of more recognition and better pay.

The same applies to social care staff.

[Peanut Shaz]

Nurses in the NHS and community are most worthy of more recognition and better pay.

The same applies to social care staff.

Agree completely. My Daughter is a Charge Nurse at the Sick Kids A & E and has to deal with some really sad and difficult cases. She doesn’t say much for patient confidentiality but we know when she’s had a difficult shift.
Also my Dad is in a care home and I cannot speak highly enough of the carers an auxiliary staff. They do a very difficult job for very little recompense. I always try and make time for a chat with them and always thank them before I leave after visiting. Nurses, Care Staff and all their colleagues have my upmost respect.

[The_Exile]

They are the best of us, they really, really are. I've been cared for at various stages throughout my life by nurses that have gone above and beyond, and I was looked after on a level that is just incredible (Essentially, I would be dead wthout the NHS). Male, female, black, white, immgrants, natives, all of them are incredible. I think the likely dismantling of the NHS under Reform will get me rioting in the streets for the first time ever at some point, I feel so strongly about how important the NHS, the wider social care sector and nurses are to the country. They deserve much better pay and conditions for the work they do.

[Jim44]

Without a great nursing service, the NHS is nothing.

[Bridge hibs]

Without a great nursing service, the NHS is nothing.

Theres more to the NHS than just nurses although I get the sentiment. It starts from the bottom, each and every person employed by the NHS is deserving of praise.

Having been a patient throughout the years in various hospitals I have the utmost respect for the tea ladies, porters, nurses, therapy and Doctors, every one a vital cog that keep the wheels turning.