Bring back Chris Whitty.

[TrickyD]

As meningitis seems to be spreading, why has the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Chris Whitty not been put in charge of planning and controlling it?

Because he has minions.

How would you know what he is or isn't doing? He's CMO, he's not likely to be lying in a deckchair somewhere reading the paper and saying- oh, there's meningitis in the UK, I hope they're getting on top of it.

Yes, he has capable minions and this is a known illness with known ways of containing and treating it - so responding to this is literally their jobs.

I’d only expect to see Chris Witty if (God forbid) we faced another novel pathogen spreading rapidly worldwide with no obvious way to control or treat it.

He had minions during the Covid era, but he managed to be the calming figure with whom most of us had confidence.

what is it you would like to see CW doing?

The worldwide outbreak of a novel virus of which we had next to no knowledge regarding treatment options and no vaccination is quite different to an outbreak of a known infection that has been well researched, has established treatment and public health pathways and an existing vaccination. Public Health teams will have well established Protocols that have already been rolled out, I can’t see what CW would add.

Yes and I imagine that's the reason- theyre saving him in case of a pandemic. If we see him delivering the advice, we'll know the shit has well and truly hit the fan.

His job description mainly relates to public health issues in the UK. We don’t need to wait for a ‘novel pathogen spreading rapidly worldwide’ to benefit from his expertise.

Because it’s not a global pandemic involving a virus that nobody knows anything about? It’s an outbreak of a known illness in a relatively small area.

It is an outbreak that seems to be spreading, hence it is a public health issue.
Rather than a fragmented response when a case appears in a newlocation, university or area, a plan led centrally would be sensible.

We don’t need to wait for a ‘novel pathogen spreading rapidly worldwide’ to benefit from his expertise.

What makes you think we are not benefiting from his expertise? What do you think he should be doing that isn't already being done? Is it a case of 'If I didn't see it on social media it didn't happen?'

They have got a plan. Vaccines and antibiotics.

Well yes it’s spreading because those who have been exposed to it are passing it around. The NHS has mobilised and have people doling out antibiotics for the students etc. Not sure why this would be any more serious than the occasional measles outbreak etc.

There is a plan led centrally. That's what UKHSA is doing.

There's already hundreds of people responding including the CEO Prof Susan Hopkins, who also worked on COVID with Chris Witty.

So because he hasn't done a press conference you think he's not doing anything?

(Next slide please)

During the Covid epidemic, I think Chris ‘next slide please’ Whitty did an excellent job explaining and calming people.
If I were the parent of a child at one of the two universities so far affected, I would welcome his public intervention and advice.

It is an outbreak that seems to be spreading, hence it is a public health issue. Rather than a fragmented response when a case appears in a new location, university or area, a plan led centrally would be sensible.

Really? Have there been cases which can't be linked to Canterbury and the nightclub?

And it is being managed centrally, to ensure stocks of vaccine and antibx are in place where needed. They have said so repeatedly.

What intervention? You’re very vague about what you’d like him to be doing that isn’t already happening.

There are many well trained and highly educated professionals with collective decades of experience involved in managing this localised outbreak. I’m sure CW is being briefed and providing his “intervention (whatever that means) and advice” if/when needed.

I'm a parent at one of the schools that has been affected. We are getting plenty of advice. I don't think Chris Witty would add anything/say anything different. In fact seeing him might cause alarm because of the associations with the international emergency that was the pandemic.

Oh FFS, as if! His advice last time was damaging and dangerous - young people, families and businesses are still paying the price for his ridiculous overreaction.

@op "If I were the parent of a child at one of the two universities"

So you aren't directly impacted in any way by the outbreak yet you are demanding that a very busy man delivers a press conference with information that can easily be found with a quick google.

MenB is a known disease, with treatment and vaccine, what else would you like to know that you feel must be delivered by Chris Whitty?

Get yourself a mug, OP, then you can see the Prof whenever you want.

I am not demanding anything, hairspraybabe, Just suggesting that Chris Whitty was a reassuring presence before and might be perceived as such now.
Good to see the confidence expressed about vaccine supplies being readily available. 🤨

I think you just nailed it. Two universities. They are dealing with it as best they can and it’s a known situation,

If he starts doing press conferences, that is going to inflame the situation

Your literal thread title

"Bring back Chris Whitty."

is written as a demand, so yeah I would say you are demanding it.