Thread by @danielgoyal

How wrong is Johnson’s (and other leadership’s) inaction?

Almost beyond comprehension.

They have abandoned the public and frontline staff. AND make absolutely no mistake about it, they have accepted avoidable deaths and disability of thousands.

1/n

Johnson’s view that we can ride out the next few weeks is based on a complete disconnect from reality.

Firstly, we have not even reached the peak in the UK. The pressures will only worsen.

The two years of profound healthcare rationing that we have endured will only worsen

thelancet.com/journals/lanep…

Secondly, while the peak may come in a matter of weeks, what the plateau and baseline will be remains unknown.

What we do know from South Africa is that for the last five weeks they have maintained a 10-fold higher number of admissions.
And mortality remains X 6.

And Johnson does not have the “luxury” of surplus healthcare capacity to absorb these new, additional pressures. He has done nothing to retain or recruit staff, so capacity will remain unachievable. Other care will have to be curtailed further which means non-Covid morbidity ⬆️

And what we know is that delayed time to first response (ambulances) and 12-hour waits in A&E increase mortality. Healthcare outcomes are almost certainly declining in the UK and risk to public is considerably higher (everyone, not just the vulnerable).

rcem.ac.uk/new-report-rev…

The strategy of neither strengthening the Frontline nor reducing the number of cases is utterly absurd. It should not occur in any nation, least of all a wealthy country.

And in response to @emilymorganitv question: yes, others will and are being refused care due to XS Covid cases. Perhaps more accurately, due to the lack of strengthening of frontline services over the last two years and next to no mitigations.

I am struggling to find signs of reassurance. Yes, individual Covid risk for many is much lower now than last year. Risk from non-Covid conditions…I’m not so sure.

Excess death in the UK is shamefully high! (1/3 non-covid)

And pls do not think this is normal!

But as many of my colleagues have said here, our duty is not to Government. We work for you. We will provide the best care we can, and still this will be better than in many parts of the world.

I suggest though, you take up the issue of Accepting healthcare rationing as a major part of This Government’s pandemic strategy with the man in charge. And perhaps suggest OUR tax money go to the frontline not “commercial partners”.

We can do so much better!!!