Changes to the NHS

[Hugh Spencer]

I have just been watching newsreel footage of the vote taken by nurses today on changes to the NHS. What I saw was two elderly nurses looking around at the hands which went up, then deciding they would put up their hands as well. Were they afraid to be seen disagreeing with all the others? Were they afraid of intimidation?

[mrs_overall]

Unless we have anyone on here who saw that footage AND can read minds, you will never know what they were thinking

[boxtops]

If they are nurses who perhaps are still RCN members but no longer working, they might not be seeing the full effect of the current cuts, and just looking for some guidance from their colleagues. I didn't see it.

[anneasquith]

elderly nurses . too tired after a night shift/12hour shift to raise their arms ?

[mrs.chappie]

I went to the Audiology Dept of the local hospital today, and was quite sad to find that the receptionist has been replaced with a touch-the-screen-and book-yourself-in computer.

She was a nice old lass, as well. :o(

[rojash]

"What I saw was two elderly nurses looking around at the"
So what you seem to be implying is that, whilst being intelligent enough to complete their training and qualify as nurses, and then be elected to the Royal College of Nursing, they are too stupid to make up their own minds.

Either you are being patronising or (more likely) indulging in a little fantasy to indulge your own political prejudices.

[Hugh Spencer]

What rubbish Rojash. I used to belong to a union years ago and I know how difficult it is to" go against the flow". You need to be of a strong character to stand against the general flow of decisions. If there was no pressure to follow the general opinion of the meeting, more would be prepared to vote otherwise.

[Quizmonster]

As Rojash suggests, they could as easily have been looking around to ensure that nearly everyone was voting the right way, just as they intended doing...and did!

[China Doll]

In my experience (which is quite a lot now), the nurses who are a bit older and have been around a lot longer are tough as nails and far more likely to express an opinion that some of the less assured younger ones or those on a career path.

I've seriously rarely met a timid, older nurse (I've been working for the NHS since 2003 and always worked for at least one nurse), the ones I know are as scary as hell if they want to be but the sort of person you would want in your corner if you were sick.

[milly143]

I also noticed on a new clip that showed the moment where they raised their hands, serveral women seemed to look around as if to see who else had their hand up, and then sort of reluctantly raised theirs. I too wondered why.