COVID-19

People will get covid, just as flu, some people will be hit really badly, some badly, some slightly and some will not even know they have had it. To be honest none of that really matters. What matters is the effect it has on NHS and other services. As long as NHS isn't getting hit then does it matter?

 

Let's hope your correct.

 

fingers crossed but at the moment I’m not convinced. Can still see it getting bad this winter too

 

The problem is the hospitals are creaking already with staff shortages and an increase in people needing hospital care who normally would have been dealt with in the community, lack of GP engagement is a major issue in some areas. Also, weakened immunity could produce more acute illness in many with more normal seasonal bugs. Any spike in COVID admissions, even if it's a small one will be difficult to manage. It's hard to imagine there not being a strain on the NHS, even if it's not directly due to COVID

 

If there is a strain on NHS then it is time to introduce more restrictions

 

The NHS is strained every winter though. Its always on the edge!

 

I’ll rephrase then and add the words ‘more strained than normal’

 

Well kicking out 100k NHS staff who are unvaccinated isn't going to help matters if that's the road the government wants to take.

 

m where has that figure appeared from?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/sajid-javid-leaning-towards-mandatory-covid-jab-nhs-staff

 

Rather than address staffing problems and apparent failures with community based healthcare. Is "restriction" the only way forward? If so we're treating a symptom rather than trying to address a cause. Carry on like that and we'll be like this for ever, whether COVID is a significant problem in the future or not.

 

I doubt if staffing issues can be sorted in the next 60 days

 

And the more we accept restrictions the less need to address it

 

so what is your suggestion for this winter if NHS is hit hard?

 

It gets hit hard every winter some more than others. It's too simplistic to ask someone for their suggestions for a situation that has so many layers, many are years in the making. If certain elements of the NHS were to get back to working the way they worked pre COVID that would help. I certainly don't think that just accepting that restrictions are the way to deal with it is the only way to manage things going forward. There are so many layers to it you can't do it justice on a forum. My worry is that restrictions will allow the politicians to maintain the status quo and that shouldn't be the case, an easy way out if the population are prepared to accept it. We obviously have different points of view which is fine but it's an important issue that my suggestions are irrelevant to, but it doesn't stop me worrying that we're being led in the wrong direction over certain public services with COVID being the cover all excuse for not investing properly and making the general public bear the brunt of responsibility

 

I agree that it is a complex situation but in the short term something has to be done so if you are against restrictions surely you have something to suggest or is it just let it happen?

 

And more good news.
Coronavirus bombshell as study of 1.4 million shows 'convincing' Pfizer vaccine efficiency (msn.com)

 

the big question is how long will that last for though?

 

Schools are back and numbers are back going up