What do you think should happen?

[Jourdain11]

Rather than, "we're going to lockdown again, aren't we?" I'm interested to know what people think should happen.

I think we should avoid lockdown at all costs. I'm also not in favour of restrictions being brought in, unless they are ones where it is clear that the benefits broadly outweigh the negatives.

If we need to have mandatory mask-wearing in public settings, proper masks should be provided at a set rate or free of charge. This would be expensive, but IMO would be a better use of funds than endless asymptomatic testing.

I do think that ultimately, asymptomatic testing needs to stop at some point. I'm not sure cases are such a useful way of measuring the impact of Covid any more and it creates a lot of public anxiety.

I also think that Covid has exposed a lot of health inequalities and these need to be addressed, so that the population can generally be in better health. Social prescribing is a good idea, but it isn't used widely or effectively enough.

I am against lockdown, closing school and work from home orders.

I am also against weird, pointless and ill-thought-out measures, like substantial meals, etc.!

I would be on board with localised restrictions if they were necessary.

Perhaps there should also be a complete review from top to bottom to see where money is wasted by the NHS. Can cutbacks be made? Where can money be better spent? Do they need as many managers in a particular area? (These are just thoughts before any NHS managers jump on me!)

At this point...clarity. Obviously this is impossible, but I think if the government were up front about it, eg "if we haven't seen cases fall by this date, then we do this" then people would find it a lot easier to swallow.

That being said, and as that won't happen, I'd settle for;

• Introduce masks on public transport
• Put a large investment behind booster jabs
• Encourage WFH but not make it mandatory

If you insist on vaccine passports, then add a negative LFT element so that people without both jabs at least have an option. Anything past this point...you're on a slippery slope.

As I've said on pretty much every post I've made, any calls for a shutdown of non essential retail or border restrictions need to be resisted. We are not in the position we were in last year, and it's almost morally wrong to just be contemplating a full fat lockdown or even say...cancellations of indoor gigs, in the knowledge that it would ruin such a large number of people's lives, especially if you're doing it on BBC News, sat at home on Zoom, with a 200k NHS consultancy role....

@User1234123

At this point...clarity. Obviously this is impossible, but I think if the government were up front about it, eg "if we haven't seen cases fall by this date, then we do this" then people would find it a lot easier to swallow.

That being said, and as that won't happen, I'd settle for;

• Introduce masks on public transport
• Put a large investment behind booster jabs
• Encourage WFH but not make it mandatory

If you insist on vaccine passports, then add a negative LFT element so that people without both jabs at least have an option. Anything past this point...you're on a slippery slope.

As I've said on pretty much every post I've made, any calls for a shutdown of non essential retail or border restrictions need to be resisted. We are not in the position we were in last year, and it's almost morally wrong to just be contemplating a full fat lockdown or even say...cancellations of indoor gigs, in the knowledge that it would ruin such a large number of people's lives, especially if you're doing it on BBC News, sat at home on Zoom, with a 200k NHS consultancy role....

**proposing. People can contemplate to their hearts content!!

Nothing.... we need to just get on with life!

If the NHS had been better funded & better run there would be no danger of it being anymore over run than it is during previous winters.

@dilly123 Its a bit more complicated than that.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/166b244e-3412-11ec-a1f1-3deca2439cf5?shareToken=d6f80bbcf5c72713f08c14e00c68f9d8

Can't see how it's complicated... bigger population... but less staff, beds & ITU beds & now they want to sack nurses who choose not to have the CV vaccine putting the system under more pressure 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

I know of someone recently spent 11 days on a ward without even seeing a doctor when her family had enough of the situation & complained she was finally seen an given an incorrect diagnosis if this isn't a broken service then I don't know what is!!

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I've just bought private health care insurance. I think it's a good idea for those who can afford it to do so. I'd rather do my bit to reduce pressure on the NHS by using private healthcare rather than restrict my life again.

I’ve got it through work but unfortunately it doesn’t cover anything pre existing so anything to do with my back isn’t covered. It came in very handy when I had gallstones though! My problem will be if I leave, which I’m considering, as I won’t be able to carry on paying for it myself

The problem with private healthcare is a) you have to be referred by a GP b) both our local private hospitals gave their facilities as overflow to the NHS so it still took over 6 months to get my minor op done because the NHS hospitals being fucked meant that the private hospitals were also fucked.

This is why I laugh at the 'I'm just not going to do it, I'll be ok if I get it' knobheads, they won't be so smug if one of their loved ones has a stroke/heart attack/car accident and the hospitals are all focussed on covid. It isn't just about getting covid, if the NHS is on its knees no-one gets treated for anything

You can self refer through BUPA for some things and they will accept referrals through Livi. Saying that, my GP wouldn't even refer me to BUPA when I had a cyst on my ankle. She was more interested in getting me to go for an over 40s health check that I'd already declined! Never mind I couldn't walk properly, that was so much more important!