Coronavirus in the UK - news, lockdown and discussion

[elbows]

Just one example for now, the most recent one I know of.

Tameside hospital outbreak got a few articles in their local press and a Guardian article or two. Where was the in depth digging, the follow-up articles or the rise of this story up the headlines?

Examples of articles at the time (a few weeks ago now):

Tameside hospital fights fatal outbreak of hospital-acquired Covid

Exclusive: inquiry launched as several patients die of Covid-19 after becoming infected while being treated for other illnesses

www.theguardian.com

Tameside Hospital is battling a coronavirus outbreak - 18 people have died

The outbreak is mostly related to 'emergency admissions' say health chiefs

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

And where was the coverage of things said in SAGE or NERVTAG about NHS England policies regarding segregation of Covid and non-covid patients?

I think I have seen a pattern of several hospital-related aspects of this pandemic rarely being touched with a bargepole by our press. I suspect there are issues there which are considered sensitive, and this area of reporting is managed in some way. It might be as simple as health correspondents having lots of professional contacts who will emphasise the enormous potential damage that stems from people being too afraid to go to hospitals, and this causes them to hold back on certain sensitive angles. Maybe there is more to it, I dont know. I certainly seem to have a different attitude about what would actually constitute responsible reporting in this area than many of the 'pros' have exhibited in this pandemic so far.

NHS staff have largely been forgotten by the press in recent months too. Like various issues of shielding those thought to be at risk due to health conditions, this stuff has dropped off the radar in an alarming manner, and many stories are covered in isolation, driven by that days news agenda and the latest turn of events rather than the big picture.

 

[Badgers]

Is the Disgraced Prime Minister 'addressing' the nation with some new slogans and vague threats today?

 

[Teaboy]

Is the Disgraced Prime Minister 'addressing' the nation with some new slogans and vague threats today?

Sounds like it's going to be a scale of the problem speech. Might get a few slogans and hopefully yet another totally unrealistic short term and unachievable goal. Probably something to do with Christmas.

 

[LDC]

When is the briefing?

 

[cupid_stunt]

When is the briefing?

5.00 pm

 

[Badgers]

Sounds like it's going to be a scale of the problem speech. Might get a few slogans and hopefully yet another totally unrealistic short term and unachievable goal. Probably something to do with Christmas.

 

[TopCat]

Has the content been flagged?

 

[Teaboy]

Has the content been flagged?

Don't think so but Vallance & Whitty are there so it seems more of an update on how bad it is and might get rather than more restrictions.

 

[TopCat]

The nation holds its breath...

 

[LDC]

Any NHS people know what the PPE situation is now? So back in march there was proper PPE. We didnt have that so they changed the definition of PPE to bin bags and ball gags or whatever. Are staff getting appropriate PPE now and are there stocks to get through winter?

Johnson must read U75, he just addressed PPE in the daily briefing. Billions of items (probably all left hand gloves...) and UK to manufacture a much higher percentage of PPE needed.

 

[LDC]

Don't think so but Vallance & Whitty are there so it seems more of an update on how bad it is and might get rather than more restrictions.

Yeah, the tone seems to be "We're ready, it's getting worse as we said, and behave or restrictions will get tougher."

 

[frogwoman]

Any update on support for businesses etc?

 

[TopCat]

Any update on support for businesses etc?

No. He said nothing new bar the daily cases data.

 

[existentialist]

Any update on support for businesses etc?

Hahaha.

 

[LDC]

No, doesn't look like it in this briefing. Whitty speaking now, then Vallance. No more new support is expected though afaik?

 

[Teaboy]

Yeah, the tone seems to be "We're ready, it's getting worse as we said, and behave or restrictions will get tougher."

Seems more like a return to the regular update press conferences we had before.

 

[LDC]

Massive test positivity rate increase in the 17-21 year old age brackets, not much at all in younger kids.

 

[brogdale]

Uh oh.

 

[killer b]

Any update on support for businesses etc?

Johnson doesn't do those announcements, it's Sunak's job.

 

[TopCat]

Uh oh.

View attachment 232420

Eek!

 

[LDC]

Yeah, the data does look grim as fuck. My prediction is we'll get more deaths this time.

 

[LDC]

Actually good questions from Kuenssberg.

 

[frogwoman]

Would be nice to know I'm not going to lose my job in the foreseeable future that's all.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Johnson must read U75, he just addressed PPE in the daily briefing. Billions of items (probably all left hand gloves...) and UK to manufacture a much higher percentage of PPE needed.

TBF, from what I am hearing from both a local care home owner, who's in contact with many others, and people I know working at the local hospital, both have plenty PPE.

 

[clicker]

I wish he'd stop the facade that everything is rosy and the NHS is 'open for business'. It isn't.
Two friends, both who ordinarily have 3 monthly hospital check ups following a cancer diagnosis, have had their appointments changed to phone interviews since March (2 each).
A phone call instead of a physical examination. That isn't 'open for business'.

 

[bimble]

This is really hard to hear. 'We will have enough PPE to last six months' is supposed to be the upbeat bit.

 

[LDC]

I wish he'd stop the facade that everything is rosy and the NHS is 'open for business'. It isn't.
Two friends, both who ordinarily have 3 monthly hospital check ups following a cancer diagnosis, have had their appointments changed to phone interviews since March (2 each).
A phone call instead of a physical examination. That isn't 'open for business'.

It is open, it's just adapted. A risk assessment would have been done and decided that a phone consultation is safer for them and the staff. They might not like it an be anxious and worried, but NHS staff will have a better idea of what's better to do than they do tbh.

 

[Teaboy]

I wish he'd stop the facade that everything is rosy and the NHS is 'open for business'. It isn't.
Two friends, both who ordinarily have 3 monthly hospital check ups following a cancer diagnosis, have had their appointments changed to phone interviews since March (2 each).
A phone call instead of a physical examination. That isn't 'open for business'.

Agreed but that was as likely a message to the NHS as well.

 

[clicker]

It is open, it's just adapted. A risk assessment would have been done and decided that a phone consultation is safer for them and the staff. They might not like it an be anxious and worried, but NHS staff will have a better idea of what's better to do than they do tbh.

Why make a point of singling out cancer as something they are 'open for', it is deliberately giving a false impression. But no suprise there. Physical examinations and scans are being cancelled and not rescheduled in some areas, would have been a truthful, but less palatable message.

 

[TopCat]

It is open, it's just adapted. A risk assessment would have been done and decided that a phone consultation is safer for them and the staff. They might not like it an be anxious and worried, but NHS staff will have a better idea of what's better to do than they do tbh.

Hohoho. I get my first post treatment appts in 7 months tomorrow. Getting a call asking if you have any lumps is no substitute for an examination.