Stay at home, protect the nhs, save lives

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AIBU to find this slogan annoying especially how it seems to prioritise protecting an organisation. The ‘save lives’ bit seems almost secondary to protecting the NHS. It is also dangerous and probably contributes to people avoiding going for treatment when they should be and thus leading the increase in deaths from other causes.

We shouldn’t be ‘protecting the NHS’ as though it is something sacred. It should be ‘Stay at home, save lives, don’t spread Covid’

......the numbers in hospitals appear very low ( the goverment seems to brag about this ) and the deaths in hospital are high.......

If this is the case, then people are clearly not being treated till they're at death's door. Some will have protected the NHS at the expense of their lives.

Some will have protected the NHS at the expense of their lives

Sadly I agree that's exactly what's happened in some cases - both Covid cases and a myriad of other potentially avoidable deaths.

This was written by a UK oncologist in April. He cites that 60,000 could die as a consequence of postponed, cancelled cancer treatment and diagnoses. 'Protect the NHS' is a dysfunctional slogan fitting for a dysfunctional system.

In a usual April, we would normally see around 30,000 people diagnosed with cancer. I would be surprised if that number reaches 5,000 this month. Coronavirus will steal the headlines, but cancer kills 450 people a day in the UK - there is no peak and the numbers aren’t coming down. Unless we act urgently, that number will rise. A group of oncologists, including myself, estimate that 60,000 cancer patients could die because of a lack of treatment or diagnosis. It’s absolutely right to stop the treatment for some cancers in the face of coronavirus. The immunosuppressive effects of the treatment would put the patient at risk as their immune system is significantly weakened. But for others, a delay of more than a month would have a negative impact on the future prognosis

inews.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-cancer-treatment-cutbacks-uk-latest-calls-charities-breast-cancer-2541044

The ‘protect the nhs’ bit is about making sure hospitals don’t get so overwhelmed that they can’t be effective

CanICelebrate
I have posted a link to an oncologist who is concerned up to 60,000 people could die as a consequence of cancelled cancer treatments and diagnoses. A&E attendance fell by 50 percent. Unless you are of the opinion that all of those were frivolous timewasters, that means seriously ill patients, including heart attacks and strokes did not receive medical care. There were recent reports that the criteria given to London ambulance crews and paramedics was so rigid and extreme, people struggling to breathe with Covid were denied hospital admission. Even though all evidence shows, earlier intervention can aid recovery. How many have died to 'protect' the NHS?

Yes @ dis that is sadly the conclusion i have drawn ( i am not blaming the nhs for this i believe it was government policy to save the nhs). I also feel as said above that other deaths are going to be very high as well.

Yes , on the cancer treatment issue, Routine Bowel and breast cancer screening also suspended until further notice, afaik.

Also mners reporting difficulties in getting dental care ( i realise that is less likely to be Life threatening, (although dentists do check for symptoms of oral cancer)).

I read it as a sentence, not a slogan.

(if you) stay at home, (you) protect the NHS, (then you) save lives

That's how it's intended, no?

Imagine the iq of the average person. Then imagine 50% of society has an iq of lower than this. You may find this irritating and patronising. However, simple messages are needed to get through to the maximum number of people. It’s a slogan and propaganda for the good of the NHS and the population to a certain extent. The government has really struggled with getting the message across effectively at times.

This slogan is very clear and therefore out of everything this shit show government has done, I would say I am probably the least irritated by it. Further qualification was required, however, as many have taken this too literally and not sought medical help for Covid related issues or others. 111 and even paramedics definitely have not helped.

I imagine it was a slogan that was conceived very quickly to convey the message. Yes, probably a better slogan could have been created, but it’s short and snappy, and sums up the key points.

The lives are saved by the nhs not being overwhelmed. It can’t cope with a normal flu season, let alone this. If they have no beds people die of other stuff too. As it turns out lots of hospitals are half empty and people are still dying of the other stuff, so it’s been a bit of a monumental cock up really.

A real problem with the slogan is that it discourages people from seeking NHS help when they genuinely need it. So, people with symptoms of heart attacks, strokes etc are not presenting at A and E, which is costing lives.

but it’s short and snappy, and sums up the key points

The key point being that it is the responsibility of the patient to protect the health care system rather than the other way round?

The save lives element is focused saving covid related deaths/ lives and not bringing the nhs to its knees. It means those with urgent or critical treatment will die due to cancellations in treatment and screening so yanbu op.

The slogan has obviously worked because we have a whole generation of workers who are now too scared to return to work, and expect to be paid furlough for as long as they need it, or send their kids to school.

YANBU - our government doesn’t do detail just sound bites.

I'm with the majority here. Hospitals around the country have been galvanised to deal with the increased need for ICU beds and ventilators. In the hospital where DD works, clinical staff who have had ICU experience have been drafted in as extra hands when necessary. That the ICU wards haven't been overwhelmed must be a good thing.

My DH has a heart condition, we are in the at risk age group, but if he shows symptoms of a heart attack, we wouldn't hesitate in getting appropriate help via A&E. We aren't terrified, we're being sensible, I've hardly ventured out, only for necessities, and he's stayed at home since early March. Lets just hope that the numpties who regularly turn up at A&E with no serious issues have learnt that its not necessary and stay away.

Does it really matter. You know what it means.

I think the avoiding hospital result was probably an unfortunate consequence of the message. When it was written, they didn’t anticipate that this would happen.

The Government thought up the slogan, they are responsible for what happens in the NHS.
Perhaps the Government thought the slogan would be an effective way of encouraging people to follow the short term measures and guidelines of the lockdown ?

It’s a slogan and propaganda for the good of the NHS and the population to a certain extent

It is most definitely propaganda. But as the OP states, its key feature is that it commands the patients to protect the health care system. Its implicit subtext, which is being highlighted by various concerned doctors? Die at home. Protect the NHS. The oncologist I cited earlier states up to 60,000 people could die because of cancelled cancer treatment. Every country has a slogan. Some version of stay home, keep safe. No other country has Protect health system X!

There are those who say ‘stay home’ was more effective than the government expected, and that more businesses closed than expected. Certainly where i am, some permitted businesses (bike repair shops, off the top of my head) closed, although I suppose that may have been an economic decision If they thought they just wouldnt get enough custom to be worth opening.
The cancer Treatment issue is starting to get a bit more attention, though ive seen no discussion of when routine screening may be reinstated.

You know it was thought up and extensively tested by an advertising agency.It had to have the right mix of impact, meaning, length etc. This was the one that the test group liked the best.

It wasn’t Boris sat on the loo thinking up ideas.

This slogan is very clear and therefore out of everything this shit show government has done, I would say I am probably the least irritated by it.

Me too. I dislike the govt but I think the slogan is pretty good: clear, and with each element leading to the next.

It is dreadful if people have taken it absolutely literally and not sought treatment for non-Covid illnesses but I really can’t blame the govt or the slogan for that. If you had a heart attack or broke your leg, wouldn’t you go to A&E?

The ‘save lives’ bit seems almost secondary to protecting the NHS.

I think the last part of any "slogan" Like this is actually the most important. It is the conclusion.

This government is well aware of how effective a 'help the NHS' (or fund the NHS) slogan is, hence the Brexit bus. If there's one thing guaranteed to make people compliant, it's the notion that the NHS is under threat. Never mind, that people have died at home from coronavirus - like this young woman - after being told they're not 'a priority'. Johnson et al have more or less got away with murder while standing behind their slogan-draped lecterns.