Current Affairs

[oldbluefox]

Me too.

As for contacting anyone at the hospital such as the secretary. Hopeless

I love listening to an answer message saying ‘I’m on holiday’ or ‘ring this or that number or leave a message’ that no bu99er has any intention of replying to. And is it me or are the NHS only working part time these days, because that’s how it comes across at times when you try and contact some departments.

I think it depends which department you are dealing with. I found the same problems as you when trying to contact oncology but now I am dealing with radiotherapy they are absolutely spot on.

[towny44]

I have the NHS portal and can now view my test results which saves me having to phone the surgery, "you are number 19 in the queue" and then having to prise the results out of them.
The convenience of being able to order prescriptions via the app is really handy.

I tried the online e-consult facility the other day for a non urgent issue, and received a phone call from the surgery offering a face to face appointment this week. I think I might continue using it far better than waiting forever on the phone.

[david63]

I tried the online e-consult facility

I hadn't heard of that before now but as my surgery does not offer that service I don't suppose I have missed anything

[Mervyn and Trish]

I have the NHS portal and can now view my test results which saves me having to phone the surgery, "you are number 19 in the queue" and then having to prise the results out of them.
The convenience of being able to order prescriptions via the app is really handy.

I tried the online e-consult facility the other day for a non urgent issue, and received a phone call from the surgery offering a face to face appointment this week. I think I might continue using it far better than waiting forever on the phone.

We have something similar that works well.

[Onelife]

I don’t know why Boris just can’t be upfront and tell the nation what we all know to be the truth… come next month we move into the survival of the fittest phase of covid

[towny44]

I don’t know why Boris just can’t be upfront and tell the nation what we all know to be the truth… come next month we move into the survival of the fittest phase of covid

You mean as we do with all the other respiratory diseases, like flu, the common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. Some of which have a far higher mortality rate than even the delta variant of covid.

[Onelife]

I don’t know why Boris just can’t be upfront and tell the nation what we all know to be the truth… come next month we move into the survival of the fittest phase of covid

You mean as we do with all the other respiratory diseases, like flu, the common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. Some of which have a far higher mortality rate than even the delta variant of covid.

There is truth in what you say in that those who suffer with the conditions you have mentioned now fall into the ‘survival of the fittest’ category, mostly due to the impact of Covid. It is also true to say those with the long-term conditions you have quoted will now be at a greater risk because of Boris’s diversionary tactic of putting his wellbeing above those in the vulnerable groups. IMO.

[Stephen]

Bang goes the environment.

That won’t pass emission regulations, if they have any.

Ukraine tensions: Russia begins military drills with Belarus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60327930

[Kendhni]

I don’t know why Boris just can’t be upfront and tell the nation what we all know to be the truth… come next month we move into the survival of the fittest phase of covid

This was the original approach that Johnson wanted to take ... summarised as "“herd immunity, protect the economy, and if that means some pensioners die, too bad.". Fortunately wiser heads ruled and it was obvious that there was no way we could protect the economy in a global pandemic.

I hope he is doing this for the right reasons, however given his narcissistic personality there may be other motives at work here.

[Kendhni]

Bang goes the environment.

That won’t pass emission regulations, if they have any.

Ukraine tensions: Russia begins military drills with Belarus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60327930

Last year a report was issued, around about the time of COP26, that looked at the environmental impact of another significant war. The conclusion was that the additional damage that would do to the environment would push us beyond the tipping point .... from which we would be unlikely to recover.

Russia is allowed to carry out manoeuvres and drills on its own soil, as does NATO, UK, US and pretty much every other country ... during which every intelligence service of the world and every satellite will be watching as closely as the good lady does with an episode of Housewives of Beverley Hills. All we can do is hope that Putin does not decide to be a total d1ck.

[Onelife]

I don’t know why Boris just can’t be upfront and tell the nation what we all know to be the truth… come next month we move into the survival of the fittest phase of covid

This was the original approach that Johnson wanted to take ... summarised as "“herd immunity, protect the economy, and if that means some pensioners die, too bad.". Fortunately wiser heads ruled and it was obvious that there was no way we could protect the economy in a global pandemic.

I hope he is doing this for the right reasons, however given his narcissistic personality there may be other motives at work here.

Yes! I do recall him saying something about a ‘pile them high’ approach

[towny44]

I don’t know why Boris just can’t be upfront and tell the nation what we all know to be the truth… come next month we move into the survival of the fittest phase of covid

You mean as we do with all the other respiratory diseases, like flu, the common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. Some of which have a far higher mortality rate than even the delta variant of covid.

There is truth in what you say in that those who suffer with the conditions you have mentioned now fall into the ‘survival of the fittest’ category, mostly due to the impact of Covid. It is also true to say those with the long-term conditions you have quoted will now be at a greater risk because of Boris’s diversionary tactic of putting his wellbeing above those in the vulnerable groups. IMO.

You seem to be learning from Ken on how to twist the facts to suit your narrative.

[Gill W]

Yesterday’s ONS figure put the prevalence of Covid in England at 1 in 19 people.

People can say, as much as they want, that it’s now going to be just like any other respiratory disease, blah, blah, but I can’t recall a time when any other respiratory illness was so prevalent, and Omicron still remains incredibly infectious .

It seems reckless to even think of stopping isolation, as that is an effective way of slowing spread of the virus. If he really does plough ahead, you have to wonder what the infection levels will be like, as people are now getting reinfected.

It’s clear we are no longer ‘following the science’, and Whitty and Vallance seem very quiet.

[Onelife]

You mean as we do with all the other respiratory diseases, like flu, the common cold, pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. Some of which have a far higher mortality rate than even the delta variant of covid.

There is truth in what you say in that those who suffer with the conditions you have mentioned now fall into the ‘survival of the fittest’ category, mostly due to the impact of Covid. It is also true to say those with the long-term conditions you have quoted will now be at a greater risk because of Boris’s diversionary tactic of putting his wellbeing above those in the vulnerable groups. IMO.

You seem to be learning from Ken on how to twist the facts to suit your narrative.

You shouldn’t give Ken all the credit I learnt most of it from you

[Kendhni]

It seems reckless to even think of stopping isolation, as that is an effective way of slowing spread of the virus. If he really does plough ahead, you have to wonder what the infection levels will be like, as people are now getting reinfected.

I have read a couple of articles that the impact of being reinfected is cumulative, the more times you catch it, the more damage it does. At the minute the science behind that was unverified .. but maybe something to keep an eye on.

[Kendhni]

There is truth in what you say in that those who suffer with the conditions you have mentioned now fall into the ‘survival of the fittest’ category, mostly due to the impact of Covid. It is also true to say those with the long-term conditions you have quoted will now be at a greater risk because of Boris’s diversionary tactic of putting his wellbeing above those in the vulnerable groups. IMO.

You seem to be learning from Ken on how to twist the facts to suit your narrative.

You shouldn’t give Ken all the credit I learnt most of it from you

For facts, stick with me, for a load of made up twaddle, feel free to pick someone else.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Last week ZOE said cases were riding again and that ONS figures would follow the trend, as they have. So it seems they were right.

But the significant number is the deaths. Despite Omicron deaths from all causes are no higher than normal for this time of year.

I'm nervous but this time had to come. This has been going on for two years now. We can't be slave to Covid for ever.

While some experts are sceptical others are saying the relaxation will make little or no difference. The majority of Omicron cases have no or minor symptoms and are only being picked up by chance; most of those people are out there anyway. Those actually feeling unwell are unlikely to go out any more than they would with flu.

Importantly for those most vulnerable we now have effective treatments we didn't have two years ago.

[Gill W]

I have read a couple of articles that the impact of being reinfected is cumulative, the more times you catch it, the more damage it does. At the minute the science behind that was unverified .. but maybe something to keep an eye on.

Yes, at the moment there’s so much we don’t know about the long term effects of multiple infections.

Also, many people seem to have bought in to the idea that Omicron is ‘mild’, without realising that ‘mild’ is clinically anything that doesn’t require hospitalisation.

Nadhim Zahawi has today told of his experience with Covid - and, as he didn’t have to go to hospital, it was ‘mild’ Covid

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry ... bd1cba4e1a

[Mervyn and Trish]

I must have a faulty link. I can't anywhere in the article I'm getting where anyone says it was mild. Mine says horrific and quite severe. Odd.

[david63]

I must have a faulty link. I can't anywhere in the article I'm getting where anyone says it was mild. Mine says horrific and quite severe. Odd.

I cannot see the word "mild" anywhere in that link either

[Manoverboard]

In that case it simply must be ' Mild ' or was it ' Bitter ' else maybe ' Stout '

[david63]

So John Major knows what went on at partygate, even though he was not there. Shouldn't someone in his position know better that to state such things in the middle of a police investigation?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60331189

[Gill W]

I think the point I was making has been missed.

‘Mild’ Covid is clinically anything that doesn’t require hospitalisation.

Zahawi didn’t require hospitalisation. Therefore his case is deemed to be ‘mild’. His horrific experience was from clinically mild Covid.

The point I was making that people have bought into the idea of Covid now being mild, without fully understanding what mild means. Mild Covid can still make people very ill

[Ray B]

Efforts by Hong Kong to get down to zero covid have taken a hit. The authorities have one of the tightest covid rules in their main quest to please Beijing, before they can open the border with China. The spike, the highest since the start of the pandemic, is said to be caused by families celebrating the Luna new year.
So control does not mean that you can crush covid as Hong Kong expected.. As we enter this new unknown of new freedom, March may be an interesting month.
I hope that will not mean Ken and I will be returning to GB to a situation we found ourselves all in when we returned from the Caribbean two years ago

[Kendhni]

I have read a couple of articles that the impact of being reinfected is cumulative, the more times you catch it, the more damage it does. At the minute the science behind that was unverified .. but maybe something to keep an eye on.

Yes, at the moment there’s so much we don’t know about the long term effects of multiple infections.

Also, many people seem to have bought in to the idea that Omicron is ‘mild’, without realising that ‘mild’ is clinically anything that doesn’t require hospitalisation.

Nadhim Zahawi has today told of his experience with Covid - and, as he didn’t have to go to hospital, it was ‘mild’ Covid

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry ... bd1cba4e1a

I don't like the way they are classifying the severity of COVID at the minute. My borther and his entire family came down with it just after Christmas and he said he had had worse colds. A neighbour came down with it and she was in bed, very ill, for several weeks and had to beg her children not to take her to hospital because she was terrified she would not come out. I don't know which variety of COVID they had but I know both would have probably been referred to as 'mild'.

I think there may some evidence that genetics may play as much of a role as age. Assuming that is the case then hopefully they can identify the markers that make it more severe in others.