Implement ‘plan B’ winter measures now or risk NHS crisis, Johnson warned

[Northerner]

Ministers must urgently implement sweeping “plan B” winter measures or derail efforts to tackle the backlog of 5 million patients, the head of the NHS Confederation warned as the UK recorded its highest daily Covid death toll since March.

Infections have been rising sharply since the start of October but the government is resisting introducing the extra restrictions set out in its winter plan such as masks, vaccine passports and advice to work from home.

On Tuesday the UK reported 223 Covid deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test - the highest for seven months – while the seven-day average for Covid-19 cases stands at 44,145 a day. The UK now has one of the highest weekly rates of new reported cases in the world.

Downing Street said it was keeping a “very close eye” on the situation. But Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents the healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said immediate action was required to prevent the NHS “stumbling into a crisis” where the elective care recovery would be jeopardised.

Implement ‘plan B’ winter measures now or risk NHS crisis, Johnson warned

NHS Confederation head fears efforts to tackle backlog of 5 million patients will be derailed

www.theguardian.com

 

[mikeyB]

Don’t forget that in the NHS the backlog of patients waiting for routine elective surgery was 4.4 million before the pandemic. They haven’t “stumbled” into a crisis, it’s just a steady increase in the waiting list since 2010 by which time the wait had been brought down close to the thousands rather than millions.

It’s mainly due to NHS finance being cut to the bone, with absolutely no slack for events such as a pandemic. The pandemic has just thrown a spotlight on the issue, but for sure it didn’t cause it.

 

[Dave W]

Going by past performance, UK Gov Ltd. is unlikely to heed the advice of Health Care Professionals and scientists until the boat has sailed and hit the iceberg (again).

 

[Sharron1]

And as tonight's performance by Mr Javid has shown... there is no plan.

 

[KookyCat]

I can’t pretend to understand this Government at all. We worked so very hard to get to where we are, why would you risk that for the sake of a face mask and a bit of distancing. Surely moderately restrictive measures now would be better than panic and lockdown later. I don’t understand why they don’t just mandate masks in some settings at the very least to bring it down a bit. Winter is risky so why not do everything you can to give us the best shot of starting at a lower base number so we can avoid critical mass. Also I’m stunned by the contrast, last year people were clapping for the NHS this year we seem to have forgotten that the word NHS means actual human beings, who are on their knees and desperate to avoid a repeat of last year.

 

[Northerner]

I can’t pretend to understand this Government at all. We worked so very hard to get to where we are, why would you risk that for the sake of a face mask and a bit of distancing. Surely moderately restrictive measures now would be better than panic and lockdown later. I don’t understand why they don’t just mandate masks in some settings at the very least to bring it down a bit. Winter is risky so why not do everything you can to give us the best shot of starting at a lower base number so we can avoid critical mass. Also I’m stunned by the contrast, last year people were clapping for the NHS this year we seem to have forgotten that the word NHS means actual human beings, who are on their knees and desperate to avoid a repeat of last year.

Basically, they are hoping for herd immunity to save them - get enough adults vaccinated and enough kids infected and immunity levels in the population should rise, causing infections to eventually fall. The government are taking a gamble, as usual And constant pressure on the NHS is part of their plan to make more privatisation seem acceptable, which is why they have been underfunding it for a decade They feel NO responsibility for the clear suffering they cause

 

[mikeyB]

In Scotland, mask wearing is still mandated in public places, and on public transport.

At my recent neurological appointment, mask wearing was compulsory in the hospital, as was maintaining distancing, hand sterilising and spot checks on temperature. Staff maintained a limit on folk in the waiting room. Friends and relatives of patients waiting were asked to move elsewhere.

I still wear a mask in shops, and when I move into the disabled loos at the football. It’s just common sense. The government doesn’t do common sense.

 

[Bruce Stephens]

At my recent neurological appointment, mask wearing was compulsory in the hospital, as was maintaining distancing, hand sterilising and spot checks on temperature. Staff maintained a limit on folk in the waiting room. Friends and relatives of patients waiting were asked to move elsewhere.

Those kinds of measures are still normal in England too, I think. The government seems to want to change things in GP surgeries to make it easier to spread infections but I haven't heard much comment about hospitals yet.

 

[KookyCat]

Basically, they are hoping for herd immunity to save them - get enough adults vaccinated and enough kids infected and immunity levels in the population should rise, causing infections to eventually fall. The government are taking a gamble, as usual And constant pressure on the NHS is part of their plan to make more privatisation seem acceptable, which is why they have been underfunding it for a decade They feel NO responsibility for the clear suffering they cause

Well that’s a dangerous little game they’re playing if that is what they’re trying to do (which I think they probably are), they’re in a race between viral adaptation and saturation of the population. Personally I’d rather have some risk mitigation and prevent the NHS being overwhelmed and any unnecessary death. I’m sure some will think I’m a lefty liberal, actually I am as it happens and proud of it, but it’s nothing to do with politics, it’s logic pure and simple. If you’re going to gamble mitigate the worst risk to some extent. Also the MPs they trundle out to explain look like they‘re being held at gunpoint or they just don’t understand words, that doesn’t inspire a great deal of confidence