My brilliant idea

[Dontforgetyourbrolly]

This probably has loads of holes in it and there might be a reason it's not already in action but ..... even a fortnight ago taxi drivers were in massive trouble due to no work . Why cant the government devise an app to use the drivers for supermarket food deliveries , medicines and takeaways ?
Just an idea and its probably nuts !

Clever!

I'm genuinely baffled as to why the government don't have plans like this in place. It's like the school/key workers thing - a complete mess and totally uncoordinated.

Surely they have the outlines of these kinds of contingency plans written down somewhere? And they've had several weeks to fill in the details and get organised. Yet it's still an absolute shambles. They're acting like this came out of nowhere round about Wednesday afternoon.

But yes, OP, it sounds like the basis of a good plan!

There's a few other 'Why don't the government..?' questions too.

This is a really good idea. Lots of drivers available, coincidentally at a time when lots of deliveries need doing.

Supermarkets are already recruiting lots of drivers

It’s already happening in a lot of towns. Certainly in the midlands. Look on local Facebook pages.

I have also had a brilliant idea. Now that there are no gigs, no big league sports many pubs, clubs and small venues are shut....how about the supermarkets employ all the security staff that now have no jobs. Think about it, those people are used to controlling large crowds and dealing with abusive idiots, maybe there might be a bit of calm and decency restored.

Not stupid op - one of our local taxi firms is working with supermarkets to do just that.

“I'm genuinely baffled as to why the government don't have plans like this in place. It's like the school/key workers thing - a complete mess and totally uncoordinated.”

I’m partly baffled as I’d have thought there’d be SOME kind of contingency planning for a pandemic created by previous govts/civil service

But I’m partly NOT as this govt couldn’t organise the proverbial piss up in a brewery!

But yes a good idea but already happening in several places - but the govt haven't sorted it the taxi drivers, shop managers and individuals have organised it!

Because if we wait for this govt to do anything useful we'll be waiting a bloody long time!

In Edinburgh they are already doing something similar, if you are self-isolating you can place a supermarket click and collect order, then Citycabs will collect it and bring it to you, payment for the taxi via their app and left on doorstep, so no physical contact between you and the driver.

The problem is that at least for now all the click and collect slots are booked for weeks ahead, so by the time you got one you will probably be out of your self isolation period (and out of food long before then!).