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Dancing Medics

(67 Posts)
Missfoodlove Thu 23-Apr-20 10:02:47

Many hospital staff have posted videos on TikTok and other social media platforms.
These are well rehearsed routines that have taken place on hospital wards/corridors.
Is this disrespectful time wasting or harmless fun?

JenniferEccles Thu 23-Apr-20 13:25:30

I’m afraid I am another one who finds this totally inappropriate and unprofessional.

Yes I agree they need to let off steam but they should do that in their own time at home when they are off duty.

Totally wrong on all levels.

Sparklefizz Thu 23-Apr-20 13:26:25

I don't think dancing medics are appropriate .... nor did I agree with the dancing policemen videos a while back. It's attention-seeking.

Chestnut Thu 23-Apr-20 14:20:28

So how did nurses during WW1 and WW2 keep their spirits up whilst dealing with millions of wounded soldiers?

They sang and danced in their own time, in their own clothes, and not in the hospital. And the poorly patients didn't know a thing about it!

Not appropriate on any level.

Washerwoman Thu 23-Apr-20 15:07:23

DH loves MASH and we've been watching epidodes recently.Of course it's a fictionalised drama but I only commented the other day how black humour and camaraderie must have helped medics cope in such difficult times.Certainly from experience on a critical care unit when I worked there the colleagues I remember sharing the toughest days with were the ones I laughed the most with
Unfortunately sharing on social media seems to be a modern disease. Not just in this case.That's what is what is inappropriate. And insensitive to do something so that obviously taken quite some time to co -ordinate in working hours.

Urmstongran Thu 23-Apr-20 15:52:59

If it’s outside in the hospital grounds they can sing and dance all they like for me.

Inside the building? Absolutely not. I think it’s disrespectful and upsetting for poorly patients and their worried families if they hear them.

Anne107 Fri 24-Apr-20 08:53:15

Sorry but could you imagine this happening during the WW1 /WW2? Nurses and doctors who were assisting all those badly maimed injured soldiers physically as well as mentally! No I cannot. When the wars were over well yeah all well and good of course. Also same as when they had that awful Ebola - I did not see any of the brave nurses and doctors dancing and singing in order to bring people’s spirits up? All of this seems so very surreal to me. I have even questioned as to whether the governments are patronising the medical staff in that praising them significantly to the point they feel they have no choice but to keep doing their job irrelevant whether they have the proper PPE to protect them hence putting their own lives and the lives of their loved ones at risk.

Iam64 Fri 24-Apr-20 09:00:52

My goodness, what a lot of judgemental, cold, critical comments.
Leave the dancing medics alone, what harm are they doing, none.
Peter Kay's suggestion that his old video of the Road to Amarillo be re-created as part of the fund raiser on tv last night was very well responded to by nurses, firefighters, refuse collectors, care home/residential workers and the staff of a funeral home in his home town of Bolton. The videos are heart warming, life affirming and raise much needed cash.
I know we're all living in a life changing and life threatening time but no need to loose all sense of fun, no need to sit in judgement on people dancing.

May7 Fri 24-Apr-20 09:17:12

Iam64
Agree entirely.

gillybob Fri 24-Apr-20 09:51:55

www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8251365/JANET-STREET-PORTER-Save-lives-cancer-coronavirus-killing.html

I’m sorry but she does have a point.

Chestnut Fri 24-Apr-20 09:58:22

Iam64 Leave the dancing medics alone, what harm are they doing, none.
I think the comments above have made it very clear what harm they are doing, maybe you should read them. Their jolly antics may be causing distress to the families of sick or dying patients. Isn't that enough of a reason for you? They should behave like professionals and let off steam in their own time and away from the hospital.

Sparklefizz Fri 24-Apr-20 10:01:59

And as most of the dancing was synchronised and pretty good, clearly a lot of time and practice has gone into it.

I am all for singing and dancing to relieve stress - it's great - but there's a time and place.

merlotgran Fri 24-Apr-20 10:04:08

I think dancing, which has clearly been rehearsed, in hospital corridors is inappropriate at this time.

Medics can do whatever they like in their own time but not in front of cameras in a hospital environment.

Of course they need to keep their spirits up but there's a time and a place.

merlotgran Fri 24-Apr-20 10:04:46

Snap! Sparklefizz

Txquiltz Fri 24-Apr-20 10:16:22

I am also a retired nurse. Surrounding gravely ill people as tho death was looking over your shoulder would have only instilled more fear and anxiety. Patients respond to a kind bit of humor when they are trapped in a sea of tubes and experiencing the worst day of their life. They know someone knows they are still human. I did not see the telecast and would not comment on that specific event, but if ever I were as ill as those patients are, I pray a nurse or doctor can find a moment to lift my spirits.

EllanVannin Fri 24-Apr-20 10:33:09

Well I didn't feel like clapping after losing a family member at 33 years who left behind 7 children----sorry ! And his partner ( my GD )suffering a breakdown.

Chestnut Fri 24-Apr-20 10:33:54

Txquiltz - I think you should see the dancing. Keeping up the patients' spirits is all part of the job but this is not the same at all. It is about keeping the staff cheerful and as stated that should not be done when they are on duty and on hospital premises.

MissAdventure Fri 24-Apr-20 10:45:23

I absolutely loathe the way everything is put on social media, but I'm not surprised it is.
As usual less isn't more with these things. Something is done, then everyone does it; making sure it's filmed, of course.

gillybob Fri 24-Apr-20 11:51:58

Exactly EllanVannin

sodapop Fri 24-Apr-20 12:29:16

I'm sorry to hear of your family tragedy EllanVannin I hope your grandson recovers soon.
I'm sure medical staff did all they could to help.

Sparklefizz Fri 24-Apr-20 13:03:46

So sorry EllanVannin flowers

JenniferEccles Fri 24-Apr-20 13:27:53

Yes Janet Street-Porter does have a point.

The effect on cancer patients has been mentioned in newspapers.
It must be agonising waiting endless weeks either for treatment or for a scan to find out if symptoms are cancer or not.

Then of course there are many other potential illnesses which are being ignored.

gillybob Fri 24-Apr-20 15:54:35

My DH received a letter this week apologising for cancelling his operation that he has already waited almost 2 years for . This will be the 4th cancellation. He has been seriously ill as a result of the neglect which will have cost the NHS £thousands more than just doing the op in the first place . Not to mention the huge deterioration in his overall health .

I pity those who are seriously ill and in need of treatment or diagnosis . Meanwhile some of the nurses are learning dance routines. What are the doctors going I wonder ?

Missfoodlove Fri 24-Apr-20 16:17:07

I send all my love out to those of you that have been affected by Covid19, be it the virus itself or the ripple effect. Some sad tales from Ellie, Gilly and others.

To have lost family, be living in fear of catching it or suffering because you cannot be treated for illness is truly awful.

My love and prayers also go to the many people who are daily putting themselves at risk that get little recognition.

Finally the medics, of course it is terrible that some are working tirelessly with seriously ill patients, I could not do their job and I keep them in my prayers too.
Not every medic is working directly with these patients,my neighbour is a nurse and spending her shifts doing very little by her own admission! So perhaps that is why do many have literally made a song and dance about it.

I will always remember as a little girl being in hospital watching the young and beautiful nurses with their intricate hats, immaculate uniforms and glamorous capes, they were like goddesses to me, I cannot imagine for one minute them dancing around the corridors!!
They were of a different era, I feel sad that we are now coming to the stage that there will be no nurses left who trained in those days and have that level of discipline and care.

Chardy Fri 24-Apr-20 16:19:20

I think I've said before that when my son was little he asked how someone in his class could be laughing when their sibling had died the week before. I explained about grief and about distraction. He understood.
Unless you nursed in a war zone (which I guessed you signed up for and been trained/prepared for), I doubt anyone can comprehend what some of these nurses have been through recently. I'm impressed that someone cared enough about their colleagues' mental health to organise it.

eazybee Fri 24-Apr-20 16:29:57

Yes, Chardy, I agree with you; thank you for putting it so succinctly.