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Coronavirus

Do any of you have a key worker in the family?

(60 Posts)
Helenlouise3 Sun 22-Mar-20 00:15:16

My daughter is a staff nurse on a geriatric ward and is on the front line fighting Covid 19. She is 38 years old with 2 children aged 7 & 8. I am heartbroken thinking, that every day she puts herself and her family at risk. My dil also works in a school that looks after vulnerable children and so has to work through this awful time. hubby and I are in the vulnerable category so are social distancing. Is anyone else in the same position and if so, how are you coping?

Whitewavemark2 Sun 22-Mar-20 09:08:27

No but two nurses live next door with two children under 3.

They are going to nursery whilst parent look exhausted. But they are kindness itself, by giving us their mobile numbers etc to contact them if we get into difficulties.

Lovetopaint037 Sun 22-Mar-20 09:14:31

Washerwoman your family are heroes and so are you for all the support you give. They are among thousands now who are fighting to keep this country going. My daughter is also an experienced nurse working in a nursing home for complex needs containing people of different ages. Unfortunately other members of the family are now unable to work as the virus has closed the businesses. I so agree with your anger over inconsiderate, uncaring members of the public who flout the guidance given in a ridiculous bravado that endangers us all.

Hazel731 Sun 22-Mar-20 09:51:57

To all those keyworkers, We cannot thank you enough, when this is all over if I hear anyone complaining to or bad mouthing these wonderful people that are looking after all of us now, I will give them such a mouthful and remind them of these dreadful times.
I am living with my son who is a policeman and my husband who has a heart condition. My husband feels like a leper because I keep saying he can't go to the shops as he is high risk. Its really difficult because my son is out there having to cope with others who may be carrying the virus and could bring it home. If someone here does get it who is going to feel guilty, probably my son.
This must be the same for all those keyworkers, so not only are they doing a wonderful job but they are maybe thinking along these lines.
Stay safe everyone.

Sparklefizz Sun 22-Mar-20 10:21:18

To all those keyworkers, We cannot thank you enough, when this is all over if I hear anyone complaining to or bad mouthing these wonderful people that are looking after all of us now, I will give them such a mouthful and remind them of these dreadful times.

Hear hear Hazel 731 !!!! Three cheers for all the key workers. flowers

suziewoozie Sun 22-Mar-20 11:53:48

Here’s some people cheering public sector workers - oh wait, it’s Tory MPs cheering them NOT getting a pay rise
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/public-sector-pay-cap-vote-conservatives-cheer-tory-theresa-may-jeremy-corbyn-dup-a7813661.html

tanith Sun 22-Mar-20 12:07:22

Why politicise a really nice thread ?

Dee1012 Sun 22-Mar-20 12:14:43

SpanielNanny... I work within the courts and my colleagues and I are absolutely horrified at the inaction of the justice system to act during the crisis.
Dirty court buildings, people forced into close proximity etc
It's horrendous.

suziewoozie Sun 22-Mar-20 12:17:17

tanith the whole thing is political. Run down public services, social care, NHS, many poorly paid staff - all the result of political decisions. And now suddenly all praise for the workers. As if we’ll care once it’s all over, as if.

wendyann23 Sun 22-Mar-20 12:24:05

My niece is an intensive care nurse currently looking after a coronavirus patient. There are 8 other coronavirus patients in her hospital but not needing intensive care. This weekend she was supposed to be on her hen do but of course that has been cancelled. Just hoping her wedding later this summer will go ahead. So proud of her and all her colleagues.

silverlining48 Sun 22-Mar-20 12:37:00

Dd who has health issues and sil both front line workers Police and NHS with no chance of working at home.

Our 2 gc are entitled to go to school but the school allocated is nearly an hours drive away. The staff begged her to to keep the children at home because they won’t cope with the numbers. As they will spend most of the time playing and watching videos so for now they will keep them home.

They will have to manage their shifts as we can’t help of course and other friends in the area won’t want to either without risking themselves. It’s day 1 tomorrow.

NonnaW Sun 22-Mar-20 15:00:32

DS2 is in the police force. He was concerned that things would turn violent on Friday night when pubs were closed. DSD2 is a nurse, working in a surgery dedicated to possible corona virus patients. She has a 5 year old son, who will be staying home with his dad.

Washerwoman Sun 22-Mar-20 16:56:46

Lovestopaint.Thanks.The DD who is the nurse has just rung after a day at home with 3 and 1 year old. She is tired and furious.Near by neighbours are basically having a party.Presumably with some of their stockpiled food.She feels like going round and reading the riot act.But she has teatime and bathtime and is just too angry.I think this good weather means some people are treating it like a bank holiday.

HurdyGurdy Sun 22-Mar-20 17:03:30

Four out of five of us are key workers. Only my husband is not.

I am in frontline Children's Services
One son works in a supermarket
The other son works in a laboratory, making chemo and other therapies
My daughter is a nursery nurse, whose nursery is remaining open for the children of their key worker clients.

oldgimmer1 Sun 22-Mar-20 17:43:13

I'm a key worker, kind of - processing claims for Universal Credit. Anticipating quite a busy time. It's mainly phone work though, so not public-facing.

I have many friends in nursing who've been called in to ensure that the ball keeps rolling; others work for charities helping some of the most vulnerable.

Gossamerbeynon1945 Sun 22-Mar-20 18:23:08

Yes, my daughter is a nurse and my SIL is a teacher. She is working 12 hour shifts and he is still going in to work to look after the children of key workers, who have no choice but to go to work. I don't know which one is more likely to catch this beastly virus.

grannyactivist Sun 22-Mar-20 20:57:08

We have two ICU nurses, two police officers and two teachers in our close family.

We also have two people with severe mental illness in our family and (understandably) their support workers are now NOT offering contact support services.

All are ‘at risk’.

Laughterlines Sun 22-Mar-20 21:06:45

A massive thank you to all the families on here putting themselves in the front line for us. HEROES every one, and that includes grandparents and family members stepping in to help. We don’t know where we would be without them. My mum used to say God doesn’t pay his debts with money. On behalf of the whole country Thank you. I promise do my bit by staying well and not panic buying.

grannysyb Sun 22-Mar-20 21:17:22

My stepdaughter and her husband are both aneathsatists in different London hospitals. This means they are involved with intensive care and also deal with respiratory problems. They have two daughters aged 10 and 14 who are no longer at school, but as they are privately educated they can't access the care for children of key workers. Please don't think they are complaining about this, it's how life is at the moment. We can't help as we are both over 70 and DH has underlying health issues.

flowersfromheaven Sun 22-Mar-20 21:43:23

Yes my daughter is a support worker in a hospital and I must admit I am worried sick that she may catch the CV, I am just wishing people would take notice at what advice we have all been given and start distancing oneself from other people so this virus doesn't spread more.

JanT2004 Sun 22-Mar-20 22:17:43

Yes I work in a large supermarket doing the online grocery shops. I have had to start getting up at 3.15 to start early at 5am because otherwise the hoards of shoppers that rush in at 6am when the store opens would leave us with nothing to pick. We have to put up with verbal abuse and have no chance of social distancing. Both my children and their families are self isolating due to illness or low immune systems. I have started with a cough today but it’s not continual so I’m hoping it’s nothing.

Ailsa43 Mon 23-Mar-20 00:05:36

yes my o/h is a key worker. I won't say what he does but he doesn't work in a supermarket or a school ...

Hetty58 Mon 23-Mar-20 00:21:04

Bankers are key workers too!

maddyone Mon 23-Mar-20 00:40:42

I’m in awe of you all on here. So many of us with our beloved adult children who are on the front line. My daughter and her husband are GPs, but have both been told that they will have to go back to hospital work, giving palliative care to the sick and dying. My daughter has also been told she may be ventilator trained and therefore working with the sickest patients. I know I should be proud, but instead I’m terrified. I’m terrified of them catching this awful disease and then what could happen. They’re young and strong, my daughter trains for and runs marathons, but I’m still so afraid. They have three young children, six year old twins and a two year old.

My son is also apparently a key worker, he is a lawyer, but luckily he thinks most of his work will be done through video link. He says the justice system can’t just stop. I guess he’s right. He’s out of London now and working from home. I just hope he doesn’t have to go to court in London during this time.

My other son could work from home much of the time, he’s not a key worker, but his boos refuses to allow his employees to work from home. So they all put themselves at risk because the boss doesn’t want to follow government advice.

But the ones I’m most worried about are my daughter and her husband.

V3ra Mon 23-Mar-20 00:43:21

My son who lives here is a Police Officer.
I'm a childminder and have four keyworkers' children on my books: three NHS and one food supply.
Three are school age and could still go, but I've said I'm not happy doing the school run and they can stay here instead. Parents are relieved as being in a smaller group minimises the risk for them.
I've had to tell another family I can't have their two boys any more as we can only care for keyworkers' children now.

Hetty58 Mon 23-Mar-20 00:58:39

maddyone, my younger son was in the same situation, travelling into London and a boss who didn't want to allow working from home.

My son, and the rest of his colleagues, decided to self-isolate and work from home anyway!