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>Some nurses have to use food banks,
That old chestnut is trotted out whenever this is discussed - but the only example I can recall was someone on Question Time audience who claimed to be a nurse using food banks , but it turned out to be very unusual circumstances. If nurses need foodbanks on their salaries then anyone else earning similar salaries- perhaps 50% - plus most pensioners, would need them too.
I understand there is a referral system but I still don't know whether they adjust the number of 'clients' when the supply of donated goods increases- do they accept more referrals that they previously turned away, do the referrers loosen the criteria, do they give out bigger baskets of food, or do they give the surplus food to staff or homeless or simply throw it away?
I understand the issues caused by UC delays combined with people not saving enough for a rainy day, but I think stories of nurses being referred to foodbanks are not believable or show there is something wrong with the referral system or how people prioritise spending (pets, takeaways v carrots, porridge, phone/lifestyle v food).
But, whatever, it's good that so many people choose to donate to foodbanks