๐งต The #UKCovidInquiry's first report on ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ has been published.
While it addresses many critical areas, it missed significant issues faced by Clinically Vulnerable (CV) families. Hereโs what you need to know...
1/ #CVAwareness
The reportโs focus on general preparedness overlooked the specific needs and challenges of CV people.
Our community faced unique risks and often felt abandoned in the early stages of the pandemic. Our exclusion from *this module* (M1) of the inquiry was a glaring oversight. 2/
Key areas missed include:
๐ The lack of tailored guidance for CV families
๐ท Insufficient availability of appropriate PPE for home use
๐ซ Inadequate mental health support
CV households had to navigate the crisis alone, compounding their stress and isolation.
3/ #CVAwareness
The report also failed to address the systemic issues in healthcare access for CV people.
๐ฅ Delayed treatments / limited availability of in-person consultations put these vulnerable people at greater risk.
We are in the upcoming Healthcare module (M3).
4/ #CVAwareness
๐ฉโ๐ซ Education was another key area. CV children and those in CV households faced challenges without remote learning / safe schools. The lack of appropriate protective policies disrupted their education significantly.
We hope to have the opportunity to assist the Inquiry in M8. 5/
๐ท Economic support mechanisms often did not account for the additional costs borne by CV families, such as home delivery charges and increased utility bills due to shielding or informal shielding.
Financial assistance was vital but insufficiently targeted.
6/ #CVAwareness
For future preparedness, itโs vital that the voices of CV people are heard. Our experiences offer valuable insights into creating a more inclusive and effective response framework.
7/ #CVAwareness
The inquiry must broaden its scope to consider the impact on CV communities in upcoming modules. Ignoring their plight risks repeating the same mistakes in future health crises.
We are still *not* identified in their Equalities and Human Rights statement:
8/ #CVAwareness
We have raised concerns to the that we are missing from this statement for a considerable length of time now. Perhaps almost 18 months?
Equity can only be achieved if we recognise that people have different needs and circumstances. #CVAwareness !
The constant risk of infection has made lives more difficult, and the damage caused by infection. We are still more likely to die and develop post viral conditions.
2/
Clinically Vulnerable people were rejected from the first 2 sections of the #CovidInquiryUK, unable comment on planning for future pandemics, even though by Baroness Hallett's own admission we will "suffer the most".
Our data, collected thanks to mask wearers during the General Election, reveals troubling issues...
#MyMaskMyVote๐ท #CleanAir๐จ
2/ Disenfranchisement is real.
Voter ID checks varied significantly:
- 38% were IDed with a mask on
- 42% asked to de-mask indoors
- 26% removed their mask indoors
- 1% โ๏ธ were disenfranchised โ๏ธ
#MyMaskMyVote๐ท
3/ Some voters were masking to protect others from Covid.
Nobody should have to de-mask indoors. Everyone deserves to vote safely.
If you do use one of these devices, it is worth knowing that whilst they have a net benefit, you really must be in the air stream to experience the most gains*.
* ..and that means being pretty close!
2/
A quick reminder that the QT3 can be improved by taping. Even with taping, the most gains are up to 40cm - and the closer the better.
Unfortunately, the fan is not very powerful, so the air flow is lower than the others above.
๐งโโ๏ธAs I sat in the hall during our Primary School assemblies, I used to watch the fairies dancing within a strip of light from between the curtains.
Little did I know...
1/๐งต
... that when they 'disappeared' that they were still there.
Or that the whole room was filled with them!
2/
Oh, and they weren't really fairies...they were 'particulate matter' or PM for short.
Which is kind of mind-blowing when you are taking in all of these different particles. Some will scatter light, and others can absorb it - so you can't always see them.
If you unfamiliar with the term, Wikipedia explains "Critics argue that the QALY oversimplifies how actual patients would assess risks and outcomes, and that its use may restrict patients with disabilities from accessing treatment."
1๐งต
In this context, it might have been used to determine whether people with Clinical Vulnerabilities were worth protecting.
It was never used, not because they didn't try. They attempted it twice.
#CVAwareness 2/
The team of analysts had a go, but they "didn't take it to Ministers because it simply wasn't advanced enough.".
"It would need to be established in 'peace time' so it was valuable in 'war time'."