Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[StoneRoad]

So, you live a 30 minute drive from your GP?

No, actually, I don't.
I can get there in less than five minutes and the paramedic can get out here in less than that !

But I do know people who do.
[both oop 'ere in't frozen norf, and in parts of North & West Wales, there are some very isolated farms and hamlets, and in weather like we've been having lately, that half an hour is a woeful underestimate, and neither are there buses]

 

[Thora]

Not all GPs are doing the vaccinations though. I live in a fairly rural area and my nan, despite having a GP in her village and living 5 miles from my town that is doing vaccinations, had to go to another town 20 miles away (30+ minute drive/longer by bus) for hers.

 

[killer b]

Everyone I know who's had a jab so far has not been able to get it done at their GPs - it's always been at least a 20 minute / 1 or 2 bus trip from where they live.

 

[two sheds]

and not all of us have cars I don't like to ask neighbours to drive me round - one set already picks up my prescriptions - I didn't mind asking another neighbour because he's already caught it a while ago so there's less danger for him giving me a lift.

Eta and not all that keen on catching multiple buses or a taxi late in the day.

 

[frogwoman]

I think that one of the medium term consequences of Covid will be that international travel won't return to the level we have recently come to view as normal and the world won't be so interconnected, at least in terms of people and goods moving around so much, for some time to come.

And that could potentially be a good thing, in various non-Covid related ways.

bit shit for people with family and friends overseas though. my mum won't have seen her brother in about 2-3 years by the time this is over.

 

[strung out]

bit shit for people with family and friends overseas though. my mum won't have seen her brother in about 2-3 years by the time this is over.

My in laws were stuck in Penang from January until September before coming back to the UK. They normally spend four months of the year out there anyway, but we told them they should have stayed and lived a relatively normal life. Might have meant not seeing them for a long time though

 

[Mation]

State of public transport in the UK...

Loved because thank fuck someone is doing this analysis and drawing attention to it.

 

[platinumsage]

Everyone I know who's had a jab so far has not been able to get it done at their GPs - it's always been at least a 20 minute / 1 or 2 bus trip from where they live.

Around here the GPs are doing it through their Primary Care Networks (a PCN is an alliance of usually three GP surgeries). They typically hire a suitable venue, as most surgeries are too small, and the nearest suitable venue may not be particularly close to their surgeries.

 

[Sunray]

Everyone I know who's had a jab so far has not been able to get it done at their GPs - it's always been at least a 20 minute / 1 or 2 bus trip from where they live.

Probably due to the use of the Pfizer vaccine needing to be stored at -70c. Special freezer needed.

 

[killer b]

Probably due to the use of the Pfizer vaccine needing to be stored at -70c. Special freezer needed.

I'm not moaning fwiw - it's fine. But the idea from some that most people will be seen by their GP doesn't seem to be true, here at least.

 

[sparkybird]

I think that one of the medium term consequences of Covid will be that international travel won't return to the level we have recently come to view as normal and the world won't be so interconnected, at least in terms of people and goods moving around so much, for some time to come.

And that could potentially be a good thing, in various non-Covid related ways.

I have friends in India, Mexico and Guatemala who's livelihoods absolutely depend on tourism. Some can try and adapt, but not all are able. These countries, and others, where there is little or no support for people with no work are being hit with a double whammy.
I'm supporting them as much as I can, but am scared for their futures.

 

[andysays]

bit shit for people with family and friends overseas though. my mum won't have seen her brother in about 2-3 years by the time this is over.

That's what I mean by the level we have recently come to view as normal.

My grandfather, born in 1900, was one of about a dozen siblings, half of whom emigrated to parts of what was then still the British Empire. At that point in history they could realistically expect never to see each other again.

It's only relatively recently that (some) people have been able to hop on a plane and visit friends and relations on the other side of the world whenever they fancy it, though I agree that doesn't make it any easier if that situation suddenly changes.

Anyway, this is probably a derail from the main subject of the thread...

 

[cupid_stunt]

are / will all GP surgeries, though?

mum-tat lives towards the grove park edge of lewisham borough, she had to go to a GP practice at the new cross end of the borough, so that was two buses, and she must have passed a few other GP surgeries (including the one she goes to) on the way.

scale that up to larger rural area and i can well believe it...

It depends on the area, in built-up areas several GP surgeries are coming together to provide hubs, here we have about a dozen GP surgeries in town that have joined forces to set-up three hubs in the bigger health centres, in addition to the hospital hub. In nearby villages many GP surgeries are operating on their own, it's easy since the AZ vaccine was approved, because there isn't the storage issues.

I've just checked, there's currently over 1,400 sites, with more being added - the list is updated weekly, including more pharmacies as and when enough doses are available to justify it. Over 97% of the population in England are currently within 10 miles of a vaccine service, leaving out children, that's a bit over 1 million.

So, the 5.5 million being over an hour away on public transport must out of date.

Coronavirus » Vaccination sites

www.england.nhs.uk

 

[cupid_stunt]

No, actually, I don't.
I can get there in less than five minutes and the paramedic can get out here in less than that !

But I do know people who do.
[both oop 'ere in't frozen norf, and in parts of North & West Wales, there are some very isolated farms and hamlets, and in weather like we've been having lately, that half an hour is a woeful underestimate, and neither are there buses]

I am sure there's additional problems in Wales & Scotland, but that tweet was making claims just about England, and that's what I was responding to.

 

[purenarcotic]

It depends on the area, in built-up areas several GP surgeries are coming together to provide hubs, here we have about a dozen GP surgeries in town that have joined forces to set-up three hubs in the bigger health centres, in addition to the hospital hub. In nearby villages many GP surgeries are operating on their own, it's easy since the AZ vaccine was approved, because there isn't the storage issues.

I've just checked, there's currently over 1,400 sites, with more being added - the list is updated weekly, including more pharmacies as and when enough doses are available to justify it. Over 97% of the population in England are currently within 10 miles of a vaccine service, leaving out children, that's a bit over 1 million.

So, the 5.5 million being over an hour away on public transport must out of date.

Coronavirus » Vaccination sites

www.england.nhs.uk

Ten miles is a long bus journey away. Buses always take considerably longer than cars. From my house to work is 2.2 miles; with regular stopping for people to get on / off, the bus takes over 15 minutes. In a car it’s half that journey time (this all assumes no traffic at all). The messaging has been clear to avoid public transport if you can, and people are scared and many have barely left their house for a year. Not easy to suddenly navigate public transport and a busy vaccination hub after that.

When I got my vaccine offer, it was at hospital sites. My nearest was a 10 minute uphill walk to the bus stop, followed by a 15 minute wait for said bus, a 20 minute bus journey and then a ten minute walk through the hospital site to the vaccination building. That’s fine for me, I’m young etc, but if you’re 75 and have been shielding, it’s not necessarily ‘no big deal’. A taxi is a viable alternative but only if you have the money.

I don’t think it’s easy at all, because of the storage thing with Pfizer etc, but there will be people missed out because of where they locate the hubs. As more vaccines get approved though I hope it becomes easier as we will have more that can be stored normally.

 

[LDC]

Around here the GPs are doing it through their Primary Care Networks (a PCN is an alliance of usually three GP surgeries). They typically hire a suitable venue, as most surgeries are too small, and the nearest suitable venue may not be particularly close to their surgeries.

Yeah, was about to say the same. GPs giving the vaccine isn't the same as every GP surgery doing it, the one here is doing it in a suitable venue in conjunction with a bunch of other surgeries, and it's a 25 min walk for me a fats walker, or probably 3 buses or a £8 taxi ride if you don't drive.

 

[gentlegreen]

I'm lucky in Bristol.
If my GP half a mile away doesn't vaccinate my cohort, I see I already can walk two miles to a Superdrug and no longer have to risk triple-chaining my bike up at the football stadium 4 miles away.

 

[teuchter]

When GPs or PCNs or whatever are choosing venues, I wonder to what extent public transport accessibility is used in their criteria.

When the "drive through" testing centres were announced it certainly didn't feel like there was a lot of thought being given to those without cars.

And accessibility doesn't just mean seeing if there's a bus stop nearby. I'd venture that the ideal system would ask people whether they had access to a car, and have some centres designated specifically for those who don't. You would probably try to have them right in town centres where public transport is already focussed, because for many people it'll be quicker and easier to get to a location like that than it would be to get to one that might be closer to them as the crow flies but more awkward in terms of connections.

 

[Looby]

My MIL was offered a vaccination at a hub 10 miles away. She’s left the house once since March and was really anxious about going.
it would have taken her at least an hour on public transport and walking. She didn’t want to turn it down and have to wait longer to go to her surgery. Luckily there was someone to take her.
Others won’t have had a lift so now shielding people are out and about on public transport whilst our rates are really high.
I get that health and social care workers can travel to the hubs and I did, but not my 75 year old MIL.

My GP practice are doing vaccinations in a marquee in the car park. As it’s been miserable weather all week it can’t have been much fun queuing up! They’re doing them for the whole surgery group so around here that could mean at least a 30 min bus journey and we’re not slightly rural.

 

[platinumsage]

The biggest local taxi company here is offering free trips to and from vaccination centres for those who need door to door or financial support, funded by a grant from the local council’s COVID Fighting Fund.

 

[frogwoman]

That's what I mean by the level we have recently come to view as normal.

My grandfather, born in 1900, was one of about a dozen siblings, half of whom emigrated to parts of what was then still the British Empire. At that point in history they could realistically expect never to see each other again.

It's only relatively recently that (some) people have been able to hop on a plane and visit friends and relations on the other side of the world whenever they fancy it, though I agree that doesn't make it any easier if that situation suddenly changes.

Anyway, this is probably a derail from the main subject of the thread...

There's a difference between 'hopping on a plane whenever you fancy it' and 'never seeing someone again'.

Not sure the early 1900s is really a state of affairs we want to return to regarding attitudes and ease of international travel either.

 

[Artaxerxes]

When GPs or PCNs or whatever are choosing venues, I wonder to what extent public transport accessibility is used in their criteria.

When the "drive through" testing centres were announced it certainly didn't feel like there was a lot of thought being given to those without cars.

And accessibility doesn't just mean seeing if there's a bus stop nearby. I'd venture that the ideal system would ask people whether they had access to a car, and have some centres designated specifically for those who don't. You would probably try to have them right in town centres where public transport is already focussed, because for many people it'll be quicker and easier to get to a location like that than it would be to get to one that might be closer to them as the crow flies but more awkward in terms of connections.

This is why I was keen to see the nightingales used as vaccine hubs, they are frequently in highly urbanised accessible areas.

 

[Supine]

The biggest local taxi company here is offering free trips to and from vaccination centres for those who need door to door or financial support, funded by a grant from the local council’s COVID Fighting Fund.

Cabs For Jabs!

 

[SpookyFrank]

Ten miles is a long bus journey away. Buses always take considerably longer than cars. From my house to work is 2.2 miles; with regular stopping for people to get on / off, the bus takes over 15 minutes. In a car it’s half that journey time (this all assumes no traffic at all). The messaging has been clear to avoid public transport if you can, and people are scared and many have barely left their house for a year. Not easy to suddenly navigate public transport and a busy vaccination hub after that.

When I got my vaccine offer, it was at hospital sites. My nearest was a 10 minute uphill walk to the bus stop, followed by a 15 minute wait for said bus, a 20 minute bus journey and then a ten minute walk through the hospital site to the vaccination building. That’s fine for me, I’m young etc, but if you’re 75 and have been shielding, it’s not necessarily ‘no big deal’. A taxi is a viable alternative but only if you have the money.

I don’t think it’s easy at all, because of the storage thing with Pfizer etc, but there will be people missed out because of where they locate the hubs. As more vaccines get approved though I hope it becomes easier as we will have more that can be stored normally.

The vaccine hub here, which to my knowledge is the only one in Devon or Cornwall, is out past the motorway in a place I think it's actually physically impossible to walk to from the city even if you are up to a four, five mile round trip. It's a great place to get to in a car but not on a bus. There are large venues in the city with good road access which would also be accessible by bus or on foot, all standing empty of course. Mrs Frank volunteered to help out there but when we found out where it was we realised it just wasn't possible as she doesn't drive and multiple daily trips on multiple buses is a hard no.

 

[Sue]

When GPs or PCNs or whatever are choosing venues, I wonder to what extent public transport accessibility is used in their criteria.

When the "drive through" testing centres were announced it certainly didn't feel like there was a lot of thought being given to those without cars.

And accessibility doesn't just mean seeing if there's a bus stop nearby. I'd venture that the ideal system would ask people whether they had access to a car, and have some centres designated specifically for those who don't. You would probably try to have them right in town centres where public transport is already focussed, because for many people it'll be quicker and easier to get to a location like that than it would be to get to one that might be closer to them as the crow flies but more awkward in terms of connections.

Tbf, the test centres round here (Hackney) are very accessible to non-drivers. But then I saw figures saying 70% of people in the borough don't have a car, so they have to be really.

(There are three near me which are 15/20/25ish mins walk away in different directions. All are on main bus routes/near stations and shops.)

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

The vaccine hub here, which to my knowledge is the only one in Devon or Cornwall, is out past the motorway in a place I think it's actually physically impossible to walk to from the city even if you are up to a four, five mile round trip. It's a great place to get to in a car but not on a bus. There are large venues in the city with good road access which would also be accessible by bus or on foot, all standing empty of course. Mrs Frank volunteered to help out there but when we found out where it was we realised it just wasn't possible as she doesn't drive and multiple daily trips on multiple buses is a hard no.

My parents have booked theirs for this week. They're in Lincolnshire and the vaccination centre is at the county showground which is miles outside Lincoln in the middle of nowhere. They have a car so no problem for them but I've no idea how they think it will work for anyone who doesn't drive. There aren't any buses.

 

[Artaxerxes]

What is wrong with this fucking country.




Question with a shorter response, what is right?

 

[redsquirrel]

So rather than people voting for the blue party that is going to shit on voters they should vote for the red/yellow/green party that is going to shit on workers?

 

[gentlegreen]

So rather than people voting for the blue party that is going to shit on voters they should vote for the red/yellow/green party that is going to shit on workers?

I think the point is that the covid incompetence factor isn't having the dominating effect it probably should ...

 

[danny la rouge]

What is wrong with this fucking country.

Capitalism.