Talking point: was clapping for NHS staff a welcome initiative?

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.

NHS. In a recent 2023 IPSOS poll, 72 per cent agreed with the statement that “the NHS is crucial to British society, and we must do everything to maintain it”.

I’m glad we clapped for NHS Key Workers … it was good for both those who clapped and those who were clapped for.

Dr Deborah Lee believes that clapping was a good thing

No

Rachael Rowe: nurse and writer

We lived through extraordinary times during the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the standout rituals of the time was the NHS clap each Thursday evening at 8pm. At first, it was a novel experience but as the weeks dragged on, fewer people turned out and questions begun to be asked about why the NHS was getting a clap when other Key Workers weren’t. Eventually, the clap was quietly shelved.

When I reflect on my experiences during the pandemic, what I really wanted was a break from the relentless work, not a clap. Change happened at the speed of light during Covid-19, from rapid digital implementation to saying goodbye to loved ones on a computer screen, and redeployment to critical care.

Over 100 London bus and Tube drivers died during the pandemic, with few having access to PPE. Who clapped for the bus drivers?

What use is a TikTok dance or Zoom chorus when working conditions for Key Workers continue to show no signs of improvement?

Clapping and TikTok dancing and cheap self-congratulatory pin badges are not the priority. Instead, Key Workers should campaign for equality, affordable housing, access to childcare, and a salary compatible with other professionals. Permission to go home on time at the end of a shift and changing lockers in the workplace would help with retention.

So, what does gratitude look and feel like if it’s not a clap? I felt authentic appreciation during the Covid-19 vaccine programme. I had just given one of the first vaccinations when a lady turned to me and quietly said: “Thank you for all you are doing. Now I can see my great grandson for the first time.” And that’s why we are Key Workers. We want to make a difference to people’s lives and experiences, not listen to meaningless clapping.

Rachael Rowe argues that other forms of gratitude would be better

What do you think of this discussion? We would love to hear your views.

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