Coronavirus

[Bryn]

No, it was just linked, I think.

Good reading, whatever. Let's hope, however, it does not lead to some of those who read it getting lax in their behavior regarding physical distancing and other protection measures.

[johnb]

I found Matt Hancock really annoying at today's press conference. He was asked about the contribution made by EU and other nationals and gave the stock Brexit answer (bad enough) but then went on to say "I’m delighted we went into this crisis with record numbers of people and record numbers of funding in the NHS”.

Is it any wonder that people hold politicians in utter contempt.

[Dave2002]

I found Matt Hancock really annoying at today's press conference. He was asked about the contribution made by EU and other nationals and gave the stock Brexit answer (bad enough) but then went on to say "I’m delighted we went into this crisis with record numbers of people and record numbers of funding in the NHS”.

Is it any wonder that people hold politicians in utter contempt.

Sadly they don't. "We" voted for them!

[LMcD]

I found Matt Hancock really annoying at today's press conference. He was asked about the contribution made by EU and other nationals and gave the stock Brexit answer (bad enough) but then went on to say "I’m delighted we went into this crisis with record numbers of people and record numbers of funding in the NHS”.

Is it any wonder that people hold politicians in utter contempt.

No! I fear that, post-crisis, all the fine words spouted by our so-called leaders about the NHS may not be followed up by what are clearly needed changes in policies and practices.(not to mention funding) Wasn't there a WW2 slogan along the lines 'Your efforts (etc.) will bring us victory'? Not unreasonably, some people asked who 'us' were. Plus ca change ....

[cloughie]

Sadly they don't. "We" voted for them!

We?

[oddoneout]

I found Matt Hancock really annoying at today's press conference. He was asked about the contribution made by EU and other nationals and gave the stock Brexit answer (bad enough) but then went on to say "I’m delighted we went into this crisis with record numbers of people and record numbers of funding in the NHS”.

Is it any wonder that people hold politicians in utter contempt.

Record numbers yes, just not on the positive side but record staffing deficits and real terms deficit funding doesn't sound so good on the propaganda does it. The sad, and worrying, thing is that people believe this rubbish, some because of party allegiance, but a great many because of lack of curiosity or ability to question the truth of the figures.

[MrGongGong]

Record numbers yes, just not on the positive side but record staffing deficits and real terms deficit funding doesn't sound so good on the propaganda does it. The sad, and worrying, thing is that people believe this rubbish, some because of party allegiance, but a great many because of lack of curiosity or ability to question the truth of the figures.

All the more reason for these people to be publicly called out on it.
He is simply lying and all the protocol and politeness simply facilitates it

[LHC]

Record numbers yes, just not on the positive side but record staffing deficits and real terms deficit funding doesn't sound so good on the propaganda does it. The sad, and worrying, thing is that people believe this rubbish, some because of party allegiance, but a great many because of lack of curiosity or ability to question the truth of the figures.

In absolute terms he is right, in that the amount of funding provided to the NHS has risen under the Tories; what he doesn’t say is that those increases are less than the increase in the annual cost of running the NHS, and therefore represent cuts in real terms. He also fails to acknowledge that we spend less on healthcare as a % of GDP than most other developed countries in Europe and elsewhere, so by almost any measure, our healthcare services are underfunded.

[BBMmk2]

Anyone here on the at risk category, like me?

[Dave2002]

We?

Thats’s what the quotation marks were for. Thus

“We” voted them in.

I didn’t. Some people I know - probably did. I think hardly anyone in my family would have done.

[Dave2002]

Anyone here on the at risk category, like me?

No - “merely” in the higher risk over 70s club. The “at risk” category seems to include people with specific diseases, or currently undergoing specific treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and some pregnant women.

Keep safe, and I hope things will work out OK for you. Best wishes. Dave.

[LMcD]

Anyone here on the at risk category, like me?

I'm over 70 and I have type 2 diabetes, but I'm not sure whether that means that I'm 'at risk' or merely an inconvenience.
Re #1566 - I didn't vote for them - never have done, never will.

[Dave2002]

In absolute terms he is right, in that the amount of funding provided to the NHS has risen under the Tories; what he doesn’t say is that those increases are less than the increase in the annual cost of running the NHS, and therefore represent cuts in real terms. He also fails to acknowledge that we spend less on healthcare as a % of GDP than most other developed countries in Europe and elsewhere, so by almost any measure, our healthcare services are underfunded.

A slight diversion, but similar arguments have applied to school education. New rules and minimum wage requirements have led to a greater spend [trumpet fanfare], but actually fewer teachers and lower quality of education as head teachers can’t balance the budgets due to the lack of funding - which hasn’t increased proportionately. It’s often the music teachers who are axed.

[Dave2002]

I'm over 70 and I have type 2 diabetes, so I presume I am.

I think if you haven’t had the letter(s) telling you you are considered at risk, you perhaps aren’t. There is a list of conditions etc. in one of the web pages which was pointed out recently - I’ll try to find it.

I think yesterday I found a list in this link - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable *** though today I can’t get “into” that page. Maybe there was another one.

With a bit of ingenuity getting into the site I found this - https://www.gov.scot/publications/co...lassification/ though that is for Scotland. I’ll check to see if it’s the same for other parts of the UK. More of the same, for Scotland - https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses...d-19-shielding

For Wales https://gov.wales/guidance-on-shield...#section-38728

I can’t find anything so specific for Northern Ireland, though I did get to here - https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/coronavirus

I could perhaps find details for England, though I’d have to pretend I still live there, and even then it might not work as the site may check my details.

Anyone in England can probably find a similar page to the Scottish one by clicking on the extremely vulnerable [***] link at the top. Maybe someone else can do that.

[Pulcinella]

I think if you haven’t had the letter(s) telling you you are considered at risk, you perhaps aren’t. There is a list of conditions etc. in one of the web pages which was pointed out recently - I’ll try to find it.

I think yesterday I found a list in this link - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable *** though today I can’t get “into” that page. Maybe there was another one.

With a bit of ingenuity getting into the site I found this - https://www.gov.scot/publications/co...lassification/ though that is for Scotland. I’ll check to see if it’s the same for other parts of the UK. More of the same, for Scotland - https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses...d-19-shielding

For Wales https://gov.wales/guidance-on-shield...#section-38728

I can’t find anything so specific for Northern Ireland, though I did get to here - https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/coronavirus

I could perhaps find details for England, though I’d have to pretend I still live there, and even then it might not work as the site may check my details.

Anyone in England can probably find a similar page to the Scottish one by clicking on the extremely vulnerable [***] link at the top. Maybe someone else can do that.

But then again:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/12/uk-government-giving-incorrect-information-on-self-isolation-say-gps