Gransnet forums

Coronavirus

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

Snap! Sparklefizz

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Iam64
Agree entirely.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chestnut Thu 23-Apr-20 12:48:48

I think it's hugely insensitive to the patients and their families who are very sick or dying. It's just not appropriate in the circumstances. We are hugely grateful to these people and want them to keep their spirits up, but this is not professional or considerate. ?

coggie Thu 23-Apr-20 12:36:44

heath, an interesting comment. Thanks

coggie Thu 23-Apr-20 12:35:57

EV, you don't clap? You are to be shamed, vilified and mocked.

It's a collective madness I'm afraid.

Ellianne Thu 23-Apr-20 12:31:45

If music and dance help them to cope a bit better then that's fine. If it helps the patients in their care then that's fine too. What I object to is that the whole thing then becomes a competition on social media as to who can put on the best display amongst the profession. It is attention seeking.

May7 Thu 23-Apr-20 12:01:21

Even in the worst of times hospital staff find time to be cheerful and have fun. Some who dont work in that setting (and it appears some who do) may see it as black humour but this is how many people cope with horror around them. Laughter is the best medicine - it releases endorphins.

Visit a hospice or childrens ward or just listen to a porter when they escort you to theatre.
Lighten up please. These have to be the worst times many of these hospital staff have had to endure and there's will be probably more of it to come

gillybob Thu 23-Apr-20 11:58:59

My view may be unpopular but I don't think "dancing medics" is appropriate at all.

I'm thinking how I would have felt seeing this when my DH was fighting for his life in ICU with others not so lucky.

I remember sitting in the little sad family room watching ordinary people walk by laughing and chatting thinking "how bloody dare you carry on as normal" I can't imagine how I would have felt seeing nurses dancing and laughing.

heath480 Thu 23-Apr-20 11:55:04

I am a Retired Nurse,these videos appall me.

Nursing was a well respected Profession,we had high standards.I trained in Central London in the 1960’s.We could do no wrong in the Public’s eyes.

Of course we didn’t make headline news,it was a different
world as far as social media goes.

Dancing around,hair hanging down,jewellery,nail polish!!

So disrespectful to patients and their families.

Hopefully with all the bad press today these videos will stop.

EllanVannin Thu 23-Apr-20 11:49:03

Missfoodlove, you'd then get the distinct feeling that they were laxed in what they did. Not a good impression I'd have thought. Certainly not professional that's for sure.

The old matron I trained under would be turning in her grave.

EllanVannin Thu 23-Apr-20 11:44:49

As a retired nurse I worked damned hard and appreciate the hard work that the majority of them do but not once in all the years, were staff recognised, doctors, surgeons and nurses, so after ALL the years these people have worked/work, it's taken over 60 years for the general public to recognise and appreciate the work that they do, that it has to take a deadly pandemic to make people sit up and take notice. I've known most of my life how hard they work even if others haven't.

Hospitals, clinics and GP's have " just been " places to go to when sick/injured, without thought of how they're treated or who treats them. We've taken these places far too much for granted over the years and this is and has been my problem.

I've worked with some magnificent surgeons/consultants over the years who deserved medals and more for their work, especially in the 50's/60's. Yes there was praise for saving lives but none of the front page headlines that would have been well deserved at the time.