A care worker has revealed she was denied entry into a convenience store because she was wearing her uniform.
Emily Challinor, 20, from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, who had stopped to purchase a snack during her shift, described feeling ‘appalled’ and ‘so upset’ when she was told by staff at the Premier in Staffordshire, that she could not enter in her carer’s uniform.
However the shop later insisted they had taken the precautionary measure due to the risk of Covid-19 seen in care homes and the ‘duty of care’ it had to all its employees and customers.
The care worker, who was asked to leave the store on May 1, said: ‘I was on a five-minute break in my shift which started at 3.30pm and went on until 10pm when it happened.
Emily Challinor, 20, from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, was refused entry into a convenience store as she was wearing her carer’s uniform
The care worker had visited the Premier store in, Chesterton, Staffordshire, when she was told she could not enter in her uniform
‘I pulled into the local Premier to get a drink and some crisps to snack on.
‘I went to go in and the lady asked me to wait until a customer had exited the shop.
‘But then when I tried to go in again, she asked me what uniform I was in, to which I replied ”sorry what?”.
‘She then said ”well are you a carer or the NHS?’. I said ”I’m a carer”, and that’s when she said I wasn’t allowed into the shop, stating ”no carers allowed”.
‘I watched as they let every other person in, including five different people in work uniforms but apparently if you’re in a carers’ uniform you aren’t allowed in. I ended up just leaving.’
The care worker went on to explain that she was ‘not trying to hurt the business’ but instead make others aware of the challenges they might face if entering the store in uniform.
Ms Challinor added: ‘I’ve been in this shop plenty of times in my uniform, talking to the owners. Only last week I was laughing with the woman about her husband buying her a hoover and she was excited.
‘It was a lady who I hadn’t seen before behind the counter who refused me entry. I’m not trying to hurt the business.
‘I just wanted to make people aware if you’re in the area and working not to go into the shop to save the embarrassment.
‘Having said that, I won’t be going back there ever again. I’ve never felt so upset just doing my job!’
Ms Challinor explained that she had previously been in the store while wearing her uniform but on this occasion was told by a member of staff behind the counter she could not enter
The care worker later took to Facebook to explain she had stopped at the store to purchase a drink and snacks during her shift
The care worker later took to Facebook to write: ‘I had a five minute gap between clients-I’m a community care worker- so I went to the shop. I cannot get changed to travel and and from work as I travel all day.
‘I had my coat on over my tunic and this was still not enough for the staff member.’
The store has since explained that they offered Ms Challinor the option to return to the shop once she had changed, asked her friend who was in the car with her to come into the shop instead or said they could deliver the items to the car.
A spokesman for Premier said: ‘I have asked my members of staff not to allow anyone in wearing a carers’ uniform. I have a duty of care to all my employees and customers.
‘We did give this young woman the option of coming back when she had changed, asking her friend who was in the car with her to come into the shop instead or we could deliver the items to the car.
‘We are here for the interests of everybody. Unfortunately there have been a high number of cases in care homes so I was only taking the steps needed to protect people.
‘From my understanding, care workers are being asked to change at work.
‘We are all in this together and we are here to help people in any way we can.’
The store’s policy come after shoppers queued up to pay for the groceries of two paramedics in uniform as the pair stopped off for food at a Sainsbury’s store in Loughton, Essex, last month.
The two NHS workers were buying food at a store in Loughton, Essex, when they were met with a show of support from shoppers
However earlier this month the frozen food chain Iceland was slammed for telling NHS workers they must buy products if they touch them while browsing inside its supermarkets.
The company posted a message on its website that read: ‘If NHS workers touch products they have to buy them, they can’t put them back’.
The chain claimed this was to ‘reduce the risk of contamination’ and help protect staff working inside Iceland supermarkets’.
However following a backlash, the message has since been deleted.
A spokesman for Iceland later said: ‘This was an error and should not have been posted on our website. We sincerely apologise for the offence this has clearly caused, and have immediately withdrawn this guidance.
‘We are deeply grateful to the NHS and all key workers for everything they are doing to keep the country running.’
Elsewhere a Booths supermarket in Fulwood, Lancashire, was seen turning away NHS staff and carers dressed in uniform over fears they would spread coronavirus.
Joe-Ann Whitaker, who works for Direct Health and visits elderly people in their homes, was refused entry when she tried to buy a sandwich on her half-an-hour lunch break.
She told the Lancashire Evening Post: ‘It was embarrassing and upsetting. What was I supposed to do, get changed in the car park?
‘We’re working long hours at the moment in very difficult circumstances and we don’t have the time to get changed.
‘We only get a half hour break for lunch. And there’s no way I’m taking my clothes off in a supermarket car park.’
Following the incident, Booths said it was following guidance issued by the Royal Preston and Fulwood Hall hospitals to prevent infection but said it could have done more for Mrs Whitaker.
A spokesperson said: ‘It is hugely regrettable that the customer felt unappreciated at this time. Booths pride themselves on looking after all customers within their communities.
‘We have now made practical arrangements in store to help accommodate similar situations in the future.
‘These are stressful and unprecedented times for health care workers, customers and our colleagues working hard to provide food.
Iceland sparked outrage by saying once workers had touched items ‘they can’t put them back’ to reduce the risk of contamination during the coronavirus outbreak
One care worker said she was wasn’t allowed inside a store in Fulwood, Lancashire (pictured) this month
‘Our amazing teams are adapting daily to meet the unprecedented multiple demands of this crisis and working night and day in very difficult circumstances to serve our customers safely.
‘At Booths we value the enormous contribution of all health workers, particularly at this critical time. However, Booths do need to stress the vital importance of good hygiene practices and ask that all health workers wear civilian clothes when in store.
‘Booths must prioritise the safety of all their colleagues and customers at all times.
‘This policy is to protect colleagues and customers from possible infection and is part of a range of hygiene and social distancing measures in place as directed from Public Health England. Booths are respecting the guidance that has been provided.’
Government advice currently states it is best practice that NHS workers change into and out of uniforms at work and not wear them while travelling, however this does not apply to community health workers who are required to travel between patients.
Information provided by Public Health England and the NHS reads: ‘It is best practice to change into and out of uniforms at work and not wear them when travelling; this is based on public perception rather than evidence of an infection risk.
‘This does not apply to community health workers who are required to travel between patients in the same uniform.’
NHS England and the Department for Health & Social Care have been contacted for comment.
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