Talking point: was clapping for NHS staff a welcome initiative?
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Talking point: was clapping for NHS staff a welcome initiative? Was clapping for carers a great morale booster or an insensitive platitude? Here, two Key Workers have their say.
Yes Dr Deborah Lee: Pharmacist Between March and May 2020, 37 million UK citizens stood on their doorsteps, once a week to clap and bang saucepans in appreciation
of the tremendous work being done by the NHS during the Covid-19 epidemic. It started 3 days after lockdown, which had left us frightened and bewildered. Even the Prime Minister and the Queen clapped.
Clapping is a good thing. We clap to show appreciation and to say we want more.
We certainly wanted to show appreciation. At the time, the UK Covid-19 death toll was over 100 per day, and Britain had 85,000 confirmed positive cases … more than any other country. NHS staff were working under intense pressure and in unprecedented circumstances. Often, without the correct PPE, they were themselves in danger of becoming infected. Clapping was a personal and emotional tribute. We were expressing our gratitude for their dedication and commitment, when we, the public, felt vulnerable and afraid. It also helped bring the community together and helped raise morale. Clapping was definitely a good thing. Showing gratitude has many psychological benefits. When we clap, we feel more positive, confident and happier. It helps lower anxiety and depression, and during the pandemic these conditions were skyrocketing. Clapping showed the NHS was not being taken for granted. All staff work better when they feel valued. Care workers needed to feel their efforts were being recognised. Perhaps the fact that two-thirds of the nation stood on their doorsteps banging saucepans helped persuade the government to show real appreciation for the vital NHS workforce. In May 2021, NHS workers were awarded a pay rise of 4%, backdated to 1 December 2020, along with a £500 payment as a thank you.
Dr Deborah Lee believes that clapping was a good thing
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The British public greatly values the
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