Eagle-eyed This Morning viewers picked up on a production mistake on the show earlier today.
Presenters Rochelle Humes and Andi Peters returned to the ITV show this morning [August 16], discussing the recent viral social media post surrounding a recent 'gift' presented to some NHS worked.
An NHS Trust sparked fury after it handed out single teabags as a treat to hero midwives and nurses, which many have branded an insult after a Twitter user shared a snap of the gesture online.
The tea bags were wrapped in white and blue packaging that said "A little treat to say thank you" and were part of a gift bag which included a certificate.
Discussing the controversial gesture with LBC presenter Nick Ferrari, This Morning host Andi suggested "it kind of makes you cringe, doesn't it?"
"Absolutely appalling," Nick agreed when speaking via video link, before going on to explain the single branded tea bag had been sent out as a "thank you" to staff on International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses' Day
"A couple of things, we won't obviously name the hospital involved," he continued, as the viral tweet revealing the hospital's name was shown on screen as he spoke on Tuesday morning.
"It probably started as a good idea but it ended up as a teabag, but we're reminded we did a story similar to this - again I won't name the hospital..." Nick added before going on to share a related story.
This Morning viewers were quick to pick up on the fact that despite Nick's desire not to reveal the name of the NHS trust behind the teabag gesture, the viral tweet being shown on screen cancelled his intentions out.
"You say you won’t name the hospital involved who gave the tea bag as a thank you to staff, but your happy to show it’s name on screen lol #ThisMorning," one viewer quipped on Twitter as the segment aired.
Others focused on the gesture itself - labelling it 'insulting' and calling for a pay rise for key workers and NHS staff following a challenging few years in the health care industry.
"Really after all they did during Covid. They get a teabag. Who they heck come up that idea #ThisMorning," one angry fan fumed, as another declared: "While the teabag is misguided the hospital trust can’t authorise a pay rise for their staff. You need to direct that one to your beloved Tory Govt. #ThisMorning."
A third angrily tweeted: "#ThisMorning A tea bag won't pay your bills or put food on your table,if that idea came from the top,then god help us,pay them what they deserve."
"A single teabag, think they'd probably prefer a 10% pay rise #ThisMorning," another fumed, with yet another Twitter user adding: "A teabag for a nurse is a slap in the face, a payrise would be a better idea #ThisMorning."
Speaking amid the online backlash regarding the gesture, Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "Of course we are hugely grateful for the hard work done by all our staff caring for our communities and we are always seeking new ways to show appreciation and kindness to our teams.
"As a thank you for all their incredible efforts during the pandemic we worked with our charity and our Trade Union partners to show our appreciation in a number of ways.
"This included offering every colleague an additional paid day's leave and for all our staff working over the Christmas and New Year fortnight, we provided a free meal each day.
"In addition, we have a wide-ranging support offer to protect their mental and physical health and wellbeing and we continue to offer free parking for all staff.
"By way of an extra small but sincere thank you to our midwives and nurses for International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses' Day, back in May, we sent each of them a certificate and a gift bag with a number of items in, including a branded tea bag, to encourage them to take a break.
"We wanted to let them know how much we appreciate all the hard work they do and also further raise awareness of the important work our hospital charity is doing to support our staff wellbeing.
"It's a shame that one small act of kindness, done with good intent as part of one of the many ways we say 'thank you' has been taken out of context in this way."
