Majority of retired NHS staff don't want to return to tackle Covid-19 crisis – the guardian, theguardian.com
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Scores of retired NHS doctors and nurses have told the Guardian that they are against returning to work to help tackle coronavirus , with many saying it would threaten their physical and mental health. The government confirmed contingency plans on Tuesday to call back to work NHS “leavers and retirees” to help relieve pressure on an NHS workforce that is expected to be overwhelmed by the virus.
But a majority of (former NHS employees who responded to a Guardian callout were resistant, and in some cases hostile, to the idea. Many respondents said unprompted they did not want to a return to a working environment where they suffered stress, bullying, burnout and even breakdowns.
Seventy-one said they would not be happy to return to work, with many expressing their reluctance in vehement terms. “After the way I was treated I would rather shove a rusty six-inch nail up my backside than return to my old job,” said a 79 – year-old former staff nurse from Manchester.
Anthony O’Neill, 58, from Glasgow, said: “No, nein, non, nej! Was a hospital physician for 55 years: never ever going back. ” And a – year- old London GP said: “I left general practice due to burnout. I would not go back under any circumstances. ”
A 66 -year-old former GP from Northamptonshire said he “jumped ship early” after “being repeatedly shafted by successive administrations”. He asked: “Why would I go back?”
A former senior sister from Wigan said she still has “nightmares 16 years on about the extraordinary working conditions ”. Another said: “I left nursing in disgust at the treatment of nursing and ancillary staff by a toxic and bullying management culture.” And a nurse from Cheshire said: “I still feel quite angry that I felt no option but to retire at . ”
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