They have chosen to ignore the report in 2012 that specifically said we were poorly equipped for a pandemic particularly in terms of ventilators, apparently. Not really read up on it.
Well, if I'm arguing that the lockdown may kill more than the virus, then the answer is plainly none. Maybe just the hand-washing and stuff.
Yes, and I said previously that somebody probably made a call based on the likelihood of a serious pandemic. Current events show they made the wrong call, but there was nothing in the SARS, bird flu or swine flu outbreaks that suggested the U.K. would be anymore at risk than with a particularly virulent influenza strain. The chances of anything coming from Mars is a million to one (they said), so we’re not that well stocked up with bazookoids and phasers at the moment.
Depends I guess. If it would’ve cost a trillion to have built up a reasonable stock of ventilators over time from then then fair enough. If it was a few million then the odds would have suggested it was a worthy investment. Just based on the economics before any argument about the right thing to do for the plebs you’re paid to protect.
I doubt Patrick Vallance would criticise the government Watford? However, I am more than happy for you to show me the article or evidence suggesting that.
Yes we have. This has been coming for some time and all the time we've been ignoring it and refusing to pay towards ensuring our public services remain fit for purpose. There is no fat on the bone in any of the systems and a constant desire to reduce costs to avoid asking the taxpayer to pay any more. Hysteria by the press or cheap headlines does lead to cynicism and the Peter and the Wolf effect. However there is no excuse for our national leaders to fail to carry out proper risk assessments. Particularly as our resources were not that scarce. We had the windfall of finding and exploiting the North Sea gas fields and Mrs Money Tree had no difficulty in finding several billion pounds in loose change to pay a bribe to the DUP. We could have planned for the future differently without making it a point of political principle. .
You’re looking at my post too deep, Ubes. I was taking the piss . I avoid the politics thread nowadays
This week I have heard the Governor of NY say "not many come off the ventilator". I think I have already posted that quote. I also heard it from that DR video I posted. Why do people need to be on Ventilators? Normally because they can't breathe for themselves, maybe pneumonia? Watch that video I posted the guy explains why not many come off ventilators...besides didn't you say earlier that we didn't have recovered stats?
There is already a team preparing for an inquiry. I will wait before I comment. It's far too early to point fingers. Fools rush in and all that.
A major, serious, pandemic was 100% predictable (and this one might not be the worst in our lifetimes), because it is inevitable. What is not predictable is the timing of it and it’s seriousness. So failing to prepare for the worst is a bet, a fingers crossed ‘let’s hope it doesn’t happen on our watch’ by multiple, successive governments. Just like they bet on not having deluge causing rainfall or 8ft of snow for three months, but I think the pandemic was, evening with weird weather and climate change, much more likely. I can’t say I wouldn’t have made the same call though.
Was just talking to my good mate who works at BA.......as we talked he was checking his emails and it came through that he was now ‘furloughed’ until the end of May. Scary times
The average deaths in the U.K. from seasonal influenza over the last (I believe) ten years is 17,000, with the 2014/15 season recording over 28,000.
I have a friend, who went into hospital for an orthopedic operation about 3 weeks ago. A week ago the wound got infected, he went back into hospital, they gave him some antibiotics, and sent him home. It broke down again two days ago, he went back in again, with a septic open wound and in pain.. They told him, that he did not fulfill the criteria for admission and sent him home again. They were only taking in Covid19 patients, and I think they were worried that he would be very susceptible to infection as well. He is on his own; he is scared of septicimia, he is sure he will lose his leg, his mental health is shot. He is in an awful state mentally and physically. I am so, so worried about him and really scared that he will be one of the hidden victims of Covid19. He has cut of communication with his friends. The NHS has been completely focused by the government, the media, the population on Covid19. People with cancer, heart disease and other disorders some of which can easily be treated (like my friends infection) have been pushed back. I suspect there will be a lot more avoidable deaths in the future caused by this pandemic than by the virus itself. I would really like to know, but never will...what the real cost of the virus both in Covid19 deaths, other deaths, the cost to the economy, and the deaths caused by that too
We’ve all been on this board for years, Stan. Which of us clever souls suggested any government past or present wasn’t taking seriously enough the threat of a global pandemic? Sure, we bitch about an underfunded NHS in general more than we’ve had hot dinners, mainly not without good cause. We also have loads of beef about (an apparently) inadequate welfare state. But where were all the wise owls hooting about our lack of preparedness about this ‘inevitable’ pandemic? Look at the impact of swine flu, SARS and swine flu over the last 20+ years. Look at the U.K. deaths from seasonal influenza. I didn’t think a global pandemic was inevitable outside of a Hollywood blockbuster, but I’m not as bright as others. I’m glad you’ve actually agreed with me that it was a bet (a ‘call’) and that you admit that you’d probably have made the same call. We can all (of us) be wise after the event. Governments are there to be criticised for not expecting the unexpected/unlikely. This’ll probably bring down this one.
If you scroll back a few dozen pages then you might find my post where I said the exact same thing.....but on a less personal level. People will die through lack of care because of COVID-19.....not just BECAUSE of COVID-19
Bloody hell, that’s horrific. I heard today of a 78 year old woman, in a care home, with dementia, who developed respiratory symptoms. Her family called her GP, expecting a visit, however, the GP diagnosed corona virus over the phone and basically said an end of life care package would be sent out and that was all they could do.
