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I've been suffering with the same bug as loads of others. Sore throat, runny nose, cough etc. Usually I carry on working, but this time I thought I would be kind to myself, and others, and go 'off sick'. My rationale went something like - if I work I run the risk of passing it on, not just to pregnant women but also babies + if I rest I should get over it quicker. Both these are sensible, acceptable reasons but a little bit of meaness also entered the equation. For the past month the Mothership (the unit) has been calling us bumbling community workers in to cover their short staffing issues. We are not asked to work inside instead of on the community, we are expected to do a full shift in the community, and then cover the night shift on the unit as well. Unit midwives are not expected to do this, and equally they are not sent out to help community if we are depleated. The staffing is getting worse, long-term sick, maternity leave and now this cold-bug are wreaking havoc. When I generally go to work 'under the weather' it is so my colleagues are not left picking up my work, but word leaked out to me that the powers that be were planning to drag community in to cover, again. I've had it with helping to shore up a system which deliberately keeps us understaffed. With long-term sick and maternity leave the staff are not replaced, no extra cover is funded, so as a result we, and that goes for all NHS staff, are left to pick up the pieces. This is my protest. It has resulted in a totally wasted week though because I have honestly not felt too bright. Also, Jack has caught the bug. Poor little sausage has red-rimmed eyes, a runny nose and a cough. I feel really guilty, but it supports my decision not to work as I could have passed it on to loads of babies, at least Jack is five months old and, hopefully, strong enough to cope with a few days of difficulty feeding with a blocked-up nose, a newborn hasn't yet established feeding and doesn't have the same reserves.
A real downer is that my fridge gave up the ghost on Thursday. We went out hunting for one yesterday and it seems that 10 days is the delivery on these essentials of healthy living. It doesn't help when. having chosen one, Hubby decides not to buy it from that store because the salesperson 'didn't look at him when he was talking'. When he gets back from golf we are going to a different branch of that 'heavenly' store to buy the same fridge. Please, please let the assistant look at Hubby!