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Original poster

To think Scotland’s CMO has caused irreversible damage?

140 replies

googlepoodle · 05/04/2020 19:38

It’s not just that she has broken the rules - that is bad enough. But as a medic she must have thought there was a very low risk in moving between houses and therefore gives permission for everyone to think less of the restrictions and evaluate the risk and carry on. I honestly think she has set the whole of the country back and has caused immense damage.
She doesn’t think going out is risky. That’s the bottom line.

OP posts:
WyfOfBathe · 06/04/2020 00:12

I don’t understand why this qualification is a problem to you? It saves women’s lives! Gynaecologists don't get their degrees from the Internet.

Gynaecology is a life-saving specialism, but it doesn't automatically make her an expert in epidemiology.

Duck90 · 06/04/2020 00:17

If, for example, little Matt Hancock was found to have scuttled to a holiday home for some R+R he would get just as much, if not more, "hate
Because, as I asked, who else have been going to their second homes? It appears that this female prominent figure has been followed by the Sun. But, as I said many will be relieved it wasn’t them caught out.

Duck90 · 06/04/2020 00:31

Gynaecology is a life-saving specialism, but it doesn't automatically make her an expert in epidemiology.
Well she has been in post since 2015, so not inexperienced in the wider medical issues. I look forward to your expert opinion when it comes to recruiting the next CMO. And if you turn out to be amazing at epidemiology then put your hat in the ring.

SnoozyLou · 06/04/2020 01:25

She's gone. Problem solved.

Liddell · 06/04/2020 02:58

She was a Dunderheid as we say in Scotland, glad she's gone. There was no way back from that.

(Translation - an idiot)

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 06/04/2020 05:07

I have met her. She is lovely.

This is a catastrophic cock up and I don’t know she was thinking. Who knows. To err is human

Rosehip10 · 06/04/2020 06:09

Her apology was awful. Almost like she had "heard" critisicm but who were we to question her. The arrogance really came out in those couple of mins. She was upset and angry she was caught! The days of senior doctors being "gods" who can never be questioned or are never wrong should be long gone.

Shitsgettingcrazy · 06/04/2020 06:43

In all honesty and this is just speculation, but it would surprise me if nicola sturgeon knew exactly where she was.

Surely, they are all constantly in touch. It's not a normal 9-5 job or monday to friday. Either she lied to NS or NS was aware.

My boss would lose his shit, if I was off flouting the rules on weekend whilst telling him I was at home. Because the more people who just do what they want, the longer it goes on. The longer the company is trouble. We are a huge company and I am senior staff. What would it look like if I was one of the people on the video in richmond or at the beach and others from work saw it. While they are furloughed, their families (in some cases) are struggling and I am enjoying my weekends with my full pay and flouting the rules.

At my work, we were told. Senior staff must lead by example.

If she lied to the FM, she definitely needed to go. Right now they all need to working together and setting an example by obeying the rules. I do think NS made a mistake not accepting her resignation at the start. It wouldnt have become such a big deal if she had.

Rosehip10 · 06/04/2020 06:53

She lied to someone - the initial "she was checking a house as she won't be there for a long time" to fessing up (and I bet the press were aware) she had also gone for a jaunt to her holiday home with husband week previously.

The press conference is up there with Jo Swinson's question time appearance as car crash of the past 12 months.

Potterspotter · 06/04/2020 06:58

Along with the flouting of the rules you wonder at the stupidity of thinking she could get away with it. That said, I am sure there are many people with second homes flouting rules in general.

MamaGee09 · 06/04/2020 06:59

@Thesispieces, I totally agree. She obviously calculated it as a low risk, I don’t see the problem with what she did. They left their own home and went for one night to another home, they weren’t mixing with other people. I don’t have a problem with it’s an hone goin*to their holiday home as long as they aren’t mixing with other people. And to the people saying why did she have a weekend off! fGS we are all entitled to a day off, she’s probably been working extra long days to cover this pandemic. Total witch hunt, trial by media!

No ones mentioned the journalist and how wrong he has been , there’s is no way the journalist just happened to be where her holiday home is and is wandering about with his camera? Where does the journalist live? Why was he in FiFe?

Mlou32 · 06/04/2020 07:04

I think she knows there is a risk however doesn't think that it'll happen to her. It's like people who might go out to a nightclub and drop a pill at the weekend. There is a risk, they know there is a risk. Yet they never think it'll happen to them. Until it does.

coachman · 06/04/2020 07:06

I think what she did was low risk in itself. But she specifically went against government guidelines which ask us all not to do what she did. She didn't stay at home, or leave for one of the specified reasons.

Rosehip10 · 06/04/2020 07:07

@MamaGee09 Hi Caroline...

Mlou32 · 06/04/2020 07:08

Or people who drive after a few pints at the pub is another example. An inherently risky activity, and they are aware that it is risky however think, oh I'll be fine, nothing will happen to me.

Shitsgettingcrazy · 06/04/2020 07:08

She lied to someone

Yes. And why did she lie if she thought it was fine, weighed the risk and decided it was ok?

The blanket rules are there because while, she maybe able to calculate the risk realistically. Bob down the road thinks going to beach is fine, also seeing his parents who live 60 miles away is fine, that popping round his mates for a few beers is fine.

We can see people pushing the boundaries anyway. The rule isnt 'look at what you are doing and calculate the risks. If, it's your opinion its low risk, go ahead an do it'.

If the people setting the rules, refuse to pay attention, why should anyone else listen.

Why cant my mum and dads caravan park open? As long as the communal facilities, arent open and they promise to not see anyone while they are there. Just go in the caravan. Leave for shopping, or a walk on the beach (that's a 2 minute walk). Why has that business shut down? If going to a second or holiday home is fine? They will only go at weekends. It's ok, right?

@MamaGee09 journalists are allowed to carry on as is, whilst maintaining social distancing rules.

Makeitgoaway · 06/04/2020 07:27

I don't think you can criticise the journalist. This is exactly what journalists are for. Who else is going to hold these people to account? I'll guarantee her senior colleagues knew where she was.

Mmsnet101 · 06/04/2020 08:05

It was a daft thing to do... But BoJo flaunted the handwashing advice and is now ill and passed it to his pregnant gf. Matt Hancock hasn't isolated for the correct amount of time before going back to work. Prince Charles travelled, with symptoms, from one country to another, to a remote place with stretched NHS as it is, then magically got tested straightaway. A labour mp, forgotten his name, travelled from Cornwall to London to see his parents for a birthday which he thought fell under 'essential travel'... Lots of people in 'power' breaking the rules, but she's the only one to lose her job. Is it because what she has done is much worse? because she's a woman? or because she's
Scottish that it's a bigger deal than the others?

Original poster
googlepoodle · 06/04/2020 08:10

I said earlier in the thread that NS must surely have known. It will be her downfall if she did as NS said explicitly at the press conference that she didn’t know.

OP posts:
Iamthewombat · 06/04/2020 08:12

Lots of people in 'power' breaking the rules, but she's the only one to lose her job.

Good luck sacking Prince Charles.

No, she has not been treated more harshly because she is Scottish (!!!) or a woman.

FunTimeSummer · 06/04/2020 08:13

I'm trying not to follow too much for my sanity so if someone could put it simply...

So she went from a property in Edinburgh (where she had been based working from) To a main family home where her kids and partner are in Fife (main home) and she's classed as a key worker assumedly. Which to put in perspective is the same distance as my closest supermarket. Although for the record I've not left my house in 17 days so haven't been to it but then she was snapped on her allowed walk showing she'd gone home (or was there more to that? Was she sunbathing or something in a crowd?) and now the UK is calling for her resignation? Unless she was actually flaunting the rules I really don't get what she's done so wrong so can someone kindly explain?

Besom · 06/04/2020 08:17

I am in constant touch with colleagues at the moment but don't discuss all what they are doing at the weekend. There is not really time for small talk. I dont imagine there is at that level.

Makeitgoaway · 06/04/2020 08:18

No she and her kids live in Edinburgh and have a holiday home by the coast FunTimeSummer, which she went to two weekends running once with her husband once with the whole family. Her initial explanation was that they needed to go to close the place up, then it turned out she'd been twice.

FunTimeSummer · 06/04/2020 08:18

Why are people sayinng Fife is her second home? It's her main residence her kids go to school there! Her second home is the one in Edinburgh she works from.

coachman · 06/04/2020 08:19

Funtimesummer The advice is 'Stay at Home'. Leave home for only 4 reasons. Travelling to your holiday home for the weekend doesn't fall into any of those.