Guilt Free Railing 18

[WouldBeGood]

Will it ever end?

It's just another opportunity to promote independence and bleat about how much more money we would have if only we were independent. It's alway the priority. Never mind that testing costs a fortune, the state of NHS Scotland just now and that health has long been devolved.

I’m guessing if free testing for all ends, you have to rely on whether you have symptoms or not when deciding whether or not to hug granny. Much as we did before COVID. I don’t have a problem with that really, if you have no symptoms you’re not ill in the traditional sense and unlikely to pass anything on. I don’t think it will end completely though, and I’m expecting it to still be available for high risk individuals and health care etc. and just go for the low risk general populace. Apparently it costs 2billion a month which is pretty unsustainable long term. But then NS doesn’t have to pay for it so it’s easy pickings for her to demand it continue indefinitely.

They'd be better off investing that money in mental health and education at this stage - if we're going to keep spending surely that makes more sense but NS is never going to see it.

England is scrapping self isolating so no need for these tests.

Meantime, my chump of an MP is in the Ukraine as some kind of faux United Nations representation from Scotland, to insert himself into some de-escalation of military tension talks. Like he’s an international diplomat. I hope he took some cans of Irn Bru over to distribute at the negotiating table. Get back to the day job, you tool.

I'm sure that's the level of diolomatic endeavour we'll achieve in iScotland @OnceUponAWhine - my MSP has been to China don't you know? Surprised he's not there lending gravitas.

A few tweets from Nicola, a goodwill gravy train visit from esteemed members and we'll call that a foreign policy. Who needs a military anyway?

That’s me set free. Day 8+9 negative. Wasn’t too bad one rough day 3 days in. It’s the sitting around waiting for isolation to end I’m a up and at it person was so boring. Plus side my appetite had gone and lost a few kilos.
Happily DH hasn’t caught it from me.
Thank you all for the best wishes 🌻

See what nonsense we have to endure tomorrow.

Glad you’re free @Coquohvan!

Word seems to be that they’re going to keep free LFTs for over 80s in England, with spring boosters for over 75s and those in care homes.

Seems reasonable to me

Word seems to be that they’re going to keep free LFTs for over 80s in England,

Well that doesn't really make sense.
So the 85yr old will test them self before meeting up with their 50 yr old son, who works in retail, and hasn't tested🤷🏼‍♀️

Why aren't they keeping testing for care home visitors? I know my mum will be very wary about visiting my Gran otherwise.

@WouldBeGood

Glad you’re free *@Coquohvan*!

Word seems to be that they’re going to keep free LFTs for over 80s in England, with spring boosters for over 75s and those in care homes.

Seems reasonable to me

Absolutely sensible. Now, when will we have the same as England? Tbh, I just don’t get why BJ couldn’t say today, this is now the guidance for the U.K. (based on budget which pays for the testing and vaccines, in case that’s been forgotten) and nations should follow this for Covid related matters, with amends only relating to their individual health service.

For covid though, this should now be a UK exit plan.

@patritus

Word seems to be that they’re going to keep free LFTs for over 80s in England,

Well that doesn't really make sense.
So the 85yr old will test them self before meeting up with their 50 yr old son, who works in retail, and hasn't tested🤷🏼‍♀️

They will still be able to test, they just have to pay for the tests. I would assume those in retail may have access via employer to obtain a free test. They absolutely should be retaining free tests for care homes (and assuming all areas of NHS when working within risk areas) but no reason why others shouldn’t pay.

Isn’t this what folk did before 2020- visiting elderly relatives in a care home, or their own homes, you simply didn’t go if you were ill in any way?
Way back when we were trusted to make judgements for ourselves.

We could do as France do. They sell lft in supermarkets for €1 for those that want them.

Yes, it’s only in a very few countries they’ve been “free “ all this time.

£20 for a box of lfts, so the poorer in society won't be able to test themselves. And removal of extended mandatory sick pay. That's how it's going to be. Or, will it be different in Scotland?

I seen on Twitter so not sure how reliable and haven't watched Boris statement but apparently blackford asked this @StarryEyeSurprise and was told if scotland wants to keep free tests they have to find the money to fund it.

This is the bit I hate. It all gets so political especially with NS and BJ and the only people affected by it are the general public. They still get full pay etc but wee Sandra that lives down the road loses £200 a week if she needs to isolate so of course she doesn't want to test. I can't judge people for doing what's right for them now.

Looking at my newest gas and electric bill is shocking. 2billion a month in testing? No. Time to start putting money into the poorest to help them cope with the cost of living crisis.

I do think that the poorest in society will be much better served by a state not spending money on tests that are now not necessary. Money much better directed elsewhere,

Yeah but that's not going to happen is it? They're not going to save all that money and suddenly start helping people with energy bills. It's been clear all along they don't give a single shit about the little people.

It amazes me that people ever think the government has the slightest interest in their well-being.

But there’s plenty more worthwhile uses for the money.

@TheUsualShitshow

Yeah but that's not going to happen is it? They're not going to save all that money and suddenly start helping people with energy bills. It's been clear all along they don't give a single shit about the little people.

Um, they won’t be saving any money by not providing free tests.

Despite attempts in Scotland to make it sound like it was because ‘they’ cared, they really, really, really don’t.
It’s political, always.

@WouldBeGood

It amazes me that people ever think the government has the slightest interest in their well-being.

But there’s plenty more worthwhile uses for the money.

I dunno, keeping your electorate alive is surely Job One.

So keeping their electorate alive should certainly include keeping those alive who are currently on unmanageable NHS waitlists in Scotland, for treatment with issues other than covid.
Which is naff all to do with Westminster, BoJo et co and is actually the domain of devolved health in Scotland under the exceptionally-unqualified-for-the-job Useless and power grabby, grievance queen NS.

I think at this point mass asymptomatic testing of the entire populace 'just in case' they have a virus that isn't making them ill and so is unlikely to be passed on, and if it is probably won't make the next person ill either, is a bit over the top. It makes sense to me to scale back the free testing to priority groups and settings where it matters like hospitals, and allow the rest of the population to buy them if they want to as apparently most of the world does. We're way past the point where this was a deadly new disease causing carnage - deaths are actually lower than expected for the time of year despite a massive wave as the UK has a massive immunity wall. I think it's sensible to top up immunity in the most vulnerable with boosters in a few months, but generally speaking we're in a pretty strong position and I think it is a sensible time to focus more on rebuilding the damage done by restrictions (which includes to the mental health and confidence of the people) rather than carrying on with them.

I definitely support them being freely available in healthcare settings.

Wonder what'll happen when a concerning variant comes along? Whether they've washed their hands of it now, or they'll be willing to roll back on some of this?

"Wonder what'll happen when a concerning variant comes along? Whether they've washed their hands of it now, or they'll be willing to roll back on some of this?"

Surveillance will continue by the sounds of it, just in the scaled back way that we track other diseases of concern, so variants will be monitored. There will be other variants, that's pretty much certain, and maybe the next one will be worse (much like you sometimes get a bad flu season I suppose), but we can't continue on high alert indefinitely with all the damage that causes just in case it is. I think the hope is that the high level of immunity will protect against future variants, and although it hasn't been explicitly stated the high levels of infection giving hybrid immunity will also make the population more resistant to future variants. If/when they do emerge I expect the vulnerable will be offered vaccines, but I'd be surprised if there was a wholesale return to restrictions given everything we now know about the harms.