M&S Announces Specific Opening Times For NHS Staff

NHS staff are the real heroes of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

They're the people working on the front line, treating our loved ones and helping fight this virus - so it seems insane that they're also the ones that can't get hold of any groceries when they need them.

Our overworked health workers are finding shelves cleared and struggling to buy essentials when they get off shifts thanks to people stockpiling and panic-buying.

Now, in a bid to combat this injustice, M&S has announced it's creating specific opening hours for NHS and emergency services personnel.

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A spokesperson for the supermarket said: "Supporting our customers and communities during this difficult time is our number one priority.

"We want to make sure everyone has access to the items they need, so we are setting aside the first hour of trading on certain days for our older and vulnerable customers, and for our brilliant NHS and emergency workers.

"For older and vulnerable customers, this will start tomorrow, Friday 20th March, and going forward after that, on Mondays and Thursdays.

"For NHS and emergency workers, this will be Tuesdays and Fridays."

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This will only apply to M&S stores and not franchise stores within petrol stations and railway stations.

Already, many supermarkets have taken measures to combat irrational panic-buying. This includes creating dedicated shopping times for the elderly.

Sainsbury's is the latest store to introduce these measures, dedicating the first hour of trading to the elderly, while putting limits on how many items you can buy. Customers can now only shop a maximum of three of any grocery product and a maximum of two on the most-popular items such as toilet roll, soap and UHT milk.

"As we work to feed the nation, we are also focusing all of our efforts on getting as much food and other essential items from our suppliers, into our warehouses and onto shelves as we possibly can," Sainsbury's chief executive Mike Coupe said.

"We still have enough food for everyone - if we all just buy what we need for us and our families."

Tesco and Waitrose are among the other supermarkets to put caps on certain items.

Topics: Life News, M&S, Life, Coronavirus

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara is a freelance writer working for Tyla. After graduating with an English Lit and Media degree from the University of Sussex, Ciara held jobs at GLAMOUR and Yahoo Style before packing up for a solo travelling trip around South America.

@ciarasheppard