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Original poster

GP Dr Rosemary Leonard

62 replies

Lightswitchesoffatnight · 23/06/2021 15:29

TV doctor Dr Rosemary Leonard told BBC Breakfast it was “ridiculous” that whole classes – and even year groups – are being sent home to self-isolate when one child tests positive for Covid.

She said it was unfair on children, adding: “It’s not prioritising them or their education.

We've got to stop being scared... unnecessarily, disproportionately scared of Covid......"

“It’s as if nobody is caring… and looking at this in a balanced way"

I agree 100% with this.

OP posts:
the80sweregreat · 23/06/2021 15:41

I do agree with her, but I do believe she was one of those ' celeb doctors' who told a reporter on tv last March that wearing masks indoors didn't make any difference to anything as people didn't wear them properly and would keep on ' playing with and altering them ' , making them almost useless.
That has been changed since, which makes me think that anything else they might say could also change over time as well..
I think the government are just ticking off the days till all the schools have broken up ( many private schools break up even sooner than the state ones) and just hoping that things look a lot better by September with the vaccine roll outs and so on.

TooManyPlatesInMotion · 23/06/2021 15:43

I agree with the quote shared in the op.

Original poster
Lightswitchesoffatnight · 23/06/2021 15:54

I think what she originally said about masks is spot on.

OP posts:
MrsDanvers123 · 23/06/2021 15:58

She also said that Camhs can't cope with the increased number of referrals and therefore we need to make sure that these students are back in school. That's fine then - school can once again plug the gaps caused by underfunding by the government because, as we know, schools are responsible for pretty much everything... In fact, let's just tell the adults suffering mental health issues that the waiting lists are too long as a result of Covid and they should just get back to work!

ollyollyoxenfree · 23/06/2021 16:01

@Lightswitchesoffatnight

I think what she originally said about masks is spot on.
but less than a month after saying that she tweeted

Dr Rosemary Leonard
@DrRosemaryL
So if you are going to make your own face mask the US CDC suggests using cotton with higher thread count. So torn old sheets have a use after all. But fit around the face is the most important factor.#protectingothers.

which does suggest her views are quite fleeting

mumsneedwine · 23/06/2021 16:05

Wonder if she's seeing patients face to face. Or if it's just school staff who can be in unventilated rooms with infectious students.

Delatron · 23/06/2021 16:07

I agree with her. Glad people are speaking up abs making noise about this.

I think the mask point wasn’t that they were useless but they needed to be worn properly? Fiddling around, touching them, then touching handles etc. Reusing them as many kids do?

Kind of pointless and actually makes things worse.

If masks are worn properly they can be effective.

Original poster
Lightswitchesoffatnight · 23/06/2021 16:10

@Delatron

I agree with her. Glad people are speaking up abs making noise about this.

I think the mask point wasn’t that they were useless but they needed to be worn properly? Fiddling around, touching them, then touching handles etc. Reusing them as many kids do?

Kind of pointless and actually makes things worse.

If masks are worn properly they can be effective.

Yes, agree with you about masks.
OP posts:
LondonJax · 23/06/2021 16:10

@mumsneedwine I was about to say exactly the same thing. Bit rich to say only 'we need to stop being scared' when, if you do see our local GP (a rarity like seeing the Queen in Tesco at the moment), you have to go through the Covid symptoms list, have your temperature taken etc.,

As I work in a school I feel pretty fed up that I can look after a GP's kid during school time (quite rightly) with just a mask between me and them but the GP can't look after mine on the rare occasion he needs to be seen with full PPE on.

ollyollyoxenfree · 23/06/2021 16:11

@Delatron

I agree with her. Glad people are speaking up abs making noise about this.

I think the mask point wasn’t that they were useless but they needed to be worn properly? Fiddling around, touching them, then touching handles etc. Reusing them as many kids do?

Kind of pointless and actually makes things worse.

If masks are worn properly they can be effective.

i don't disagree with your points but the issue I have is the number of high profile "experts" who make strong statements on best policies and then contradict themselves weeks/months later. It diminishes public confidence in science and is just a huge source of confusion!

The most credible scientists are the ones retweeting their old advice and explaining what was wrong with it the time, and why they've changed their minds based on emerging evidence

TheKeatingFive · 23/06/2021 16:12

I know nothing about her but she’s speaking sense now.

Total U turns on masks were ten a penny back in spring 2020, so I wouldn’t put much emphasis on that.

MrsDanvers123 · 23/06/2021 16:12

So, what about school staff who have not yet been fully vaccinated? Do they figure at all in these decisions? I would hope that the entire school community is considered when thinking about making any changes in the near future.

Original poster
Lightswitchesoffatnight · 23/06/2021 16:12

You make excellent points about seeing your GP. We should be able to see our GPs, the situation is ridiculous.

OP posts:
ollyollyoxenfree · 23/06/2021 16:13

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3979

This is a good example

"We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare that all three authors have been wrong about covid-19. MM and MB initially believed substantial undocumented transmission meant that a large proportion of the UK population was infected during the first wave. Subsequent seroprevalence surveys indicated that this was not the case. GDS thought that SARS-CoV-2 would be amplified through children and substantial mortality displacement would be observed. Neither has been the case."

LondonJax · 23/06/2021 16:14

Oops my PC slipped up there. What I meant to say was...

if you do see the GP you have to go through all the symptom checks and temperature checks but they're still mainly trying to diagnose over the phone rather than face to face.

So I can be face to face with a child at school but my GP can't even though they have more chance of being able to spot a Covid case (temperature etc which we don't do routinely) and have the PPE to protect them if someone is asymptomatic (which children are more likely to be than adults).

Pot and Kettle in my opinion. But she's right about the isolation and kids education. She just needs to preach the same to her fellow GPs or the health authorities...

Dustyboots · 23/06/2021 16:14

I haven't seen Dr Rosemary Leonard speaking - but agree with the summary of what she said.

Are we to be scared of this virus - 60,000 people crowding together in Wembley and all the rest?

Or aren't we - all the rest of the shit rules and theatre of the scared we're being forced to partake in?

This whole thing is turning into a performance. I'm not sure for whom or whose benefit. But there's no substance to it.

Horehound · 23/06/2021 16:15

I mean, if the Scotland team don't have to isolate after their team mate is positive...why would a who class of children? It's the same bloody thing. No logic at all

mumsneedwine · 23/06/2021 16:16

16,000+ cases today. ICU ventilated patients up to April levels. Yup, no masks has worked sooooo well.

the80sweregreat · 23/06/2021 16:16

Most of these 'celebrity doctors ' on tv were against the public wearing masks at first.
I know it's a different point to the op's original post , but if they can change their mind about this , then anything they say I tend to take with a pinch of salt. I know it's only her POV though and it doesn't help people who have had their children in and out of school for months.
I feel they tend to only say what the government tells them to say too but I am a cynic and probably wrong.
I've been lucky and seen my own GP once since this all started. They are seeing people after an initial telephone consultation if they feel you need to. The surgery was very busy that morning : almost back to normal.
I appreciate that's not the case for many though and been terrible :(

Dustyboots · 23/06/2021 16:17

16,000+ cases today. ICU ventilated patients up to April levels. Yup, no masks has worked sooooo well.

And the vaccinations. I thought they were meant to playing a part in this Covid drama. What effect have they had - it's not all down to masks now is it?

Fitforforty · 23/06/2021 16:18

A person opinion is nothing. We need to be making decisions based on risk. We need the data not a celebrity touting their opinion.

AnyFucker · 23/06/2021 16:23

16,000+ cases today. ICU ventilated patients up to April levels. Yup, no masks has worked sooooo well

Theoretically we all (with vanishingly few exemptions) have been wearing masks. Ergo, masks do not work.

MarshaBradyo · 23/06/2021 16:23

Couldn’t agree more

Good on her for saying it

Thewiseoneincognito · 23/06/2021 16:26

Sorry but she’s only a GP, her opinion means zilch she’s been brought on to stir up the masses which it appears has worked- y’all be agreeing with her like she’s the Pope. Her opinions and ideas alleviate a tricky situation for working parents but isn’t actually sound advice in the control of infection during a pandemic. Has Marsha been on yet? 👀

Thewiseoneincognito · 23/06/2021 16:26

@MarshaBradyo

Couldn’t agree more

Good on her for saying it

There she is 🙋🏻‍♀️