Why wouldn’t the Chief Nurse confirm how many NHS staff have died?

[Skybluepink123]

I’ve just been watching today’s press briefing and don’t understand why Ruth May refused to confirm how many NHS staff had died from Covid?
She cited a lack of family consent which prevented her from talking about individuals but that wasn’t the information that the reporter sought. Also, I’m cross that she started her speech by acknowledging her happiness that the PM was getting better but failed to acknowledge the near 1000 families who are grieving today.
One more (trivial) thing. How comes she’s managed a hair cut in between press briefings?

Because she did not know the numbers nor the answer to whether each of the NHS staff deaths will be investigated to see if it was linked to their work. So she wittered and was evasive and looked very foolish.

She is a dreadful speaker- uses inaccurate words and is unclear.

Why not admit you don’t know if indeed you don’t? No shame in that (?) NHS staff broad term & admit, sensitively, don’t have immediate numbers?

That’s not the higher tier management culture at all. I agree with you though.

She seemed to be suggest breach of privacy to give even anonymised numbers out?

Again it’s a bit of a go-to answer because she was caught off guard. There’s no data breech with a stand alone figure and no family permission would have to be sought any more than it would be for issuing annual heart attack fatalities.

There’s no conspiracy here, the most likely possibility is that she doesn’t know but by trying to bullshit her way out a question that she can’t answer she’s made herself look much less credible.

It will come out at some point but it’s more likely to require journalists collating the numbers and freedom of information act requests (probably relating to claims for deaths in service claims) to get an approximate figure before the NHS collates it and releases a formal total.

@Everytimeref - only NHS staff tested are deemed to be in essential/critical roles (where the team could not cope without you) and in the 1st 72hrs of symptoms, plus permission of line manager.

So very, very few are being tested.

@Everytimeref I’m not sure what qualifies as ‘needing a test’ which is what they keep saying, whether that be showing symptoms or because they’ve been exposed to a positive patient. My sister works for the NHS and she doesn’t know anyone who has been offered a test yet.

I was annoyed she didn't answer the very good question about any investigations into how they had got Coronavirus. The journalist didn't even come back to make her answer that clearly.

They are certainly not testing every nurse who is exposed to a positive patient. That would be most front line staff in London for starters. Many of those would have been exposed to positive patients before there were any protocols (or PPE) in place.

GlassOfProsecco is right about the indications for testing.

so if was announced that x amount had died but we only are aware publicly of less numbers you don’t think there will be press scrambling to get names you don’t think families and staff need protecting from his sort of intrusion

It’s really not the time to make this into some sort of conspiracy

Why is this an important number?

Are we also clamouring to know how many teachers and supermarket workers have died?

Well she didn’t know, and rather unwisely she tried to waffle her way out of the question - I was cringing for her!
To be fair she had definitely not expected to be asked that question.
As for the second part of the question, that shouldn’t have been for her to answer anyway, that should have been for Matt Hancock.

MintyMabel because it could potentially be related to a lack of PPE.

She was weird about it and annoying. It’s not at all a left field type question. Far from thinking it’s a conspiracy I agree that claiming family consent was a total fudge. Her refusal to answer will prompt the press to dig deeper.

Three days ago Italy reported 94 drs and 26 nurses had died after being infected with covid-19. These numbers have sadly increased since then. UK hospitals are going through the same situation just 2 weeks behind so we can expect many more of our medical staff have died and will go on to die. On top of this we have care staff, porters, cleaners and all other front line people. Until they are in the official data records I assume she wouldn't answer the question. It's an appalling situation. I think the question should be how many NHS staff have died as there are so many more in addition to the drs and nurses.

I don't think Ruth May is any good at the press briefings, sadly.

I was particularly angry at her the day the first 2 Nurses died - who she did name, and the 2 healthcare support workers who she didn't.
She also, never mentioned them again even though she finished her spiel by asking us all to stay at home - for the sake of Areema and Aimee(the Nurses).

While I fully acknowledge that as lead Nurse for the NHS, she represents Nurses, most, if not all Nurses would say, they would be unable to do their job if it wasn't for the help of the HCSW.

It just didn't smack of "we're all in this together", to me.

@ViciousJackdaw : I agree entirely.

I agree no conspiracy but I feel in a time of such crisis there is a need for truthfulness and transparency.

Comments on masks, no evidence they help or any need to wear re: public etc. If that changes they will let us know (?)

@Wingedharpy I thought the same.

You’re so right Wingedharpy, so much for “part of the family”. Badly handled.

I don't think the figure (or this thread) are helpful to front line staff who are well aware that they are at risk but still turning up to work.

I think some people are tragedy vampires getting off on the heartbreak of others

I think some people are tragedy vampires getting off on the heartbreak of others

Absolutely agree

We're not testing asymptomatic staff because the results wouldn't be reliable. We're only testing key staff, with mild symptoms where a negative result would allow them to return to work.

I think the press are trying to do their job.

Better to give no figure than the wrong figure.

I think if she had known she would have said - the press conference wasn't that long after daily figures had been released and info on who all those poor people were, might not yet have been collated.

i hope asking the question will lead to the analysis being done

I also thought it was a strange answer. The question was not about naming all of them, it was about how many and what lessons are going to be learnt from their deaths. I don’t think it’s about not knowing the answer she could easily said this, she didn’t want to answer, and it’s completely different. I strongly believe that the number is quite high so will raise a lot of questions about how protected health professionals are.
And Matt Hancock didn’t give a chance to follow up this question, he moved to the next journalist straight away as far as I remember.

Actually a good point who did the Chief Nurse’s haircut but it could be a family member. My DH cut DD’s hair yesterday and it looks very good, he’s just good with this sort of stuff.

@MrsWhites wow that is crazy? Is there somewhere I can read about that?

I'm cutting DH's hair tomorrow.
He may end up looking like Ruth May by the time I've finished 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I’m astonished you have to ask.

Because if they said ten nurses have died the press would not stop until it had named all ten of them.

Some families do not want the intrusion.