I’m just not doing this

[Peekapopple]

I just can’t. My DD has just started to get better from the hideous anxiety she suffered after the last lockdown/ home school. I am about to see my parents who I’ve not seen in two years . A circuit breaker will just turn in to another lockdown. I can’t sit and watch our town turn back in to a bleak ghost town. Boarded up cafes and shops as yet another business fails. Being shouted at in supermarkets for turning the wrong way by accident. Why the hell if the NHS is so unfit for purpose and so easily overwhelmed don’t the idiots in charge inject some cash in to it pronto. Recruit more staff, throw up some temporary buildings. Just bloody well get on with it. They’ve had plenty of time now to get organised. Stop workers having to keep isolating when they get it. Unless people are actually ill we should be in work. We have to see that this is just wrong now. It has to stop. Enough

I agree with you OP.

[quote BaileysBaileys]@samsalmon maybe they live abroad
All my family live abroad and I haven’t seen them for nearly three years now.
I’m utterly fed up with it all and no end in sight[/quote]
I’m so sorry to hear that, it’s terrible and I hope it changes for you soon. If that’s the case for the OP too, I understand. If not, it doesn’t make sense to not have seen family for 2 years, unless they have been shielding continuously?

@Peekapopple

I just can’t. My DD has just started to get better from the hideous anxiety she suffered after the last lockdown/ home school. I am about to see my parents who I’ve not seen in two years . A circuit breaker will just turn in to another lockdown. I can’t sit and watch our town turn back in to a bleak ghost town. Boarded up cafes and shops as yet another business fails. Being shouted at in supermarkets for turning the wrong way by accident. Why the hell if the NHS is so unfit for purpose and so easily overwhelmed don’t the idiots in charge inject some cash in to it pronto. Recruit more staff, throw up some temporary buildings. Just bloody well get on with it. They’ve had plenty of time now to get organised. Stop workers having to keep isolating when they get it. Unless people are actually ill we should be in work. We have to see that this is just wrong now. It has to stop. Enough

So let’s look at the bigger picture. It’s not just the nhs

You say stop people isolating unless ill, however they can/will spread it, so then no teachers, schools close, no emergency services( already and issue potentially in London) so good luck with car accidents, needs cutting out? Forget it, need an Ambon, forget it because Peekapple has had enough and everyone should go to work even if isolating( when it’s likely you will only show positive a few days later)

As to businesses being boarded up, well that’s going to continue as more get ill because you don’t want a circuit break/ lockdown so there wont be retail staff to serve us, bus drivers to drive us to work, no online deliveries and all the rest..small business may not survive. And don’t forget those who don’t get paid sick pay and have to manage on SSP and what that may do to them

It’s not just the nhs it’s the much wider picture that people seem to forget here

And we are not the only country doing this, others have covid passports, lockdowns etc it’s a world wide pandemic and we just have to grit our teeth and get through it

Although seeing how many people on MN alone are saying they won’t follow any new rules then it’s going to go on for a long time yet

You need to be very academic and very dedicated to become a Doctor or a nurse, not everyone has the ability to do these jobs
Someone I know started in the summer as a junior doctor , she took ten years to get to that position and graduate , plus a lot of debt. She went to two universities to get to that stage in her new career and been in education for years and will always be learning.
It's easy to say this or that but the realities to doing this job are huge.
It can't all happen overnight getting new staff.

Parents life limiting illnesses and terrified of mixing. I miss them.

I appreciate my post may appear ignorant but it’s born out of utter despair, anger and frustration. My daughter’s mental health situation became incredibly serious and it has changed me irrevocably I think.

I just think we are being controlled and told half truths. Our politicians want to control us and they lie every with impunity

The problem is not the lack of NHS cash, it is the mismanagement of the NHS.

@Peekapopple

Parents life limiting illnesses and terrified of mixing. I miss them.

I appreciate my post may appear ignorant but it’s born out of utter despair, anger and frustration. My daughter’s mental health situation became incredibly serious and it has changed me irrevocably I think.

I just think we are being controlled and told half truths. Our politicians want to control us and they lie every with impunity

Very sorry to hear all that OP and your despair and frustration are really clear. When the weather is better, could you go see your parents and keep a distance? For myself, I am participating in life and doing all the things allowed, trying not to break rules but also not going beyond them. Doing my best not to put others at risk but focussing on all the things which are possible, there are plenty of those. Wishing you and your daughter all the best 🌻

It can't all happen overnight getting new staff.

No, and no one is saying it can.

But we're approaching the two year mark. What has been achieved in that time?

And we are not the only country doing this, others have covid passports, lockdowns etc

It is worth noting that many countries never went as far as banning people from seeing their loved ones inside. That to me was completely overstepping the mark.

You are being ridiculous, where are all these new NHS workers coming from? Would you like to apply?

@Helpstopthepain

The nhs need to work on retaining staff before recruiting more.

This in spades

Ok OP. Fine. I’d love to pop down to the supermarket. DH can go back to work at school too. We’re isolating with covid BTW. See you there.

Parents life limiting illnesses and terrified of mixing. I miss them.

How will you ignoring all restrictions help to solve the issue of seeing your parents? Surely it will make it far worse.

They won't want to see you if you are ignoring restrictions, mixing with more people and having covid positive people out and about. Not if they are already anxious and vulnerable.

It will mean that people like your parents, who are more vulnerable and more anxious, will become even more isolated and will be shut up for longer.

So whilst you might do more, the issue of missing seeing your parents is likely to get much worse,

Re train as a nurse and get priory schooling for your children.

You are being ridiculous, where are all these new NHS workers coming from? Would you like to apply?

Was that aimed at me?

You fast track students/trainees, you up skill those in non critical areas. You attract as many as possible to the sector. Fgs am I right in saying that nurses have to pay for their training still?

As for me, I work in the private sector in an area that raises reasonable amounts for the exchequer, a hefty proportion of which is spent on the nhs. I suspect I'm better off where I am.

The nhs need to work on retaining staff before recruiting more

This too

you’d be happy going for your smear test and being seen by a Covid positive nurse would you?

At this point, I honestly don't think I would give a shit.

@RedRobinRedbreast to work, my mum's house, for walks, bike rides, runs, to the park, outdoor coffee bars and markets. Same as I did last winter.

So sorry that you are struggling and it’s not just you so many people are feeling the same. Try and take it one day at a time. This epidemic will come to an end eventually and life will slowly get easier. Christmas might be difficult again but you will have your immediate family and that is what is most important.
It is perfectly fine to have a rant and get it off your chest. Hugs to you x

@milly74

Agree with you OP but we mustn't criticise the sainted NHS, oh no

This. Exactly this. And I'm with you too OP.

Can't do what again?? No-ones actually asking you to do anything other than wear a mask in crowded places are they?
So many threads whipping up hysteria and whinging on about how they can't possibly do another lock down. Well there is no lockdown at the moment so turn off the news and enjoy your life!!
Spend Christmas day with your family ffs, no-one is saying you can't!

They’ve had plenty of time now to get organised.

Seriously, cases so high compared to other countries, how could they? England have enjoyed freedom from being less restricted while other countries carried on.

@EllaPaella and indeed I am not saying I can’t spend Xmas with my family either? Not sure why you think that and why you are so irate about a matter which doesn’t exist? Odd. My big worry in all of this is my children especially my daughter being put in to online school which is just no good at all. She has just started to get better and it’s been absolutely fucking horrific. I cannot have her regress. So be as belittling of my fears as you like it just makes you look like an extremely unkind person

For what it’s worth I haven’t broken any Covid rules I wear a mask and everything else I am meant to do.

I just don’t want my kids lives to go back in to free fall again. Or my nieces and nephews and friends’ kids.

OP, is a perfect example of the problems we have in the UK.

1. Industrial levels of scientific ignorance
2. Poor levels of education amongst the 45+
3. Assuming complex problems have simple solutions
4. Unwilligness to accept that you can't have low taxes and scandinavian level public services
5. Being far too easily manipulated by the media about immigrants

The reasons why the NHS is not "getting on with it" is not complex if you have been paying attention.

1. Reducing NHS funding as the population gets older over the last 10 years. 100% on the Conservatives.

Due to demographics, the average age in the UK is increasing. This means it costs more to treat the increasing number of patients that it sees. Medical inflation (raw cost of medical equipement, new drugs etc.) has also been high which contributes to the problem.

Less funding = less care available. Simple.

1. Lack of GPs and Nurses (to meet the increasing needs of an ageing population)

This is entirely self-inflicted and 100% on the Tories. They got rid of nursing bursaries so our supply of domestic nurses went down, and due to Brexit, we cannot recruit them externally. Same problem with GPs, we cannot recruit them externally to meet the shortages.

Less GPs/Nurses = less care available. Simple.

1. Lack of Pandemic Management Preparation

The Conservatives were warned back in 2014 and 2016 after Pandemic risk simulations pointed out we were not prepared, and we would be facing certain catastrophe if we did not prepare properly.

Excellent recommendations were made by experts to mitigate this risk.

What did the Tories do?

Absolutely nothing. They did not implement a single important recommendation (many of which were about giving the NHS adequate resources for the management of a respiratory (viral) Pandemic).

When you join up the three points above, its spectacularly clear WHY we are were we are right now.

It's time to calibrate your view to the harsh reality of the situation.

The greatest threat against your life (and your DD) is in No 10. Him & the rest of his party are the ones directly responsible for the calamities we have all endured since March 2020.