Why is the government ignoring home-grown British PPE at a million units per purchase and going to places like Turkey and China for a larger quantity which doesn't turn up, using the excuse that we cannot produce the items in high enough volume to make it worthwhile? The government are not even answering the phone to the manufacturers, so they can do nothing but sell their goods to other countries in Europe.
Both the suppliers and the nurses are tearing their hair out.
Matt Hancock has been fudging at 5 pm for two weeks. Boris would not have allowed this to happen, I am sure.
At least two large planeloads arrived from China at Prestwick..fair enough, we helped them so they are helping us.
ReplyDeleteThe ones from Turkey? Apparently they asked for them after telling us that they were on their way
They said it was problems with the Turkish paperwork. Were they lying? Now they are saying that the EU didn't let them get onto their sharing system for PPE in time, but Brussels is saying that they had plenty of time. I think they must have been faffing about, reluctant to deal with the EU because of Brexit. Time will tell.
DeleteLetting politics get in the way if common sense and working together
DeleteAnd those circumstances are mirror images of the insanity here in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be no consistent strategy which is supported by you-know-who.
DeleteOf course Boris would have let it happen … he has! He, as usual, isn't to be seen.
ReplyDeleteI know he's been ill , but he's surely recovered enough to participate in video conferences.
I'm not sure about that.
DeleteI'm also not sure if you understand how long it takes for some people to get back to work after nearly dying of the virus. I have heard from survivors that until you have experienced the fatigue which is so severe that you cannot even think straight after two hours of waking up in the mornings, you will not know what it is like.
DeleteI have actually had viral pneumonia and remember it's being very unpleasant but am quite sure that he's as capable of taking part in talks and a bit of planning as ever he was.
DeleteNobody seems to be doing anything constructive.
I've had pneumonia as well and I still don't think I am qualified to make the pronouncements that you dish out so readily. There are thousands of people working their arse off. Have a heart.
DeleteThe govt had no idea PPE wasn't only needed by EVERY part of nhs as well as every community caring situation
ReplyDeleteThey had a war-game scenario for a pandemic in 2013 (?) and disregarded the findings. They were supposed to allow for the virulence and unpredictability of just such a virus, but I am beginning to think that austerity and cutbacks got in the way of stock-piling for the unexpected. This virus is unknown and changing constantly, as all virus do. We could just as easily plan for an alien invasion, because that's just what it is.
DeleteBoris me me me! Rishi me me me me! Dominic me me me me! Priti me me me me! Michael me me me me! Robert me me me me! Ben me me me me! Matt me me me me! Alok me me me me! Liz me me me me! Therese me me me me! Gavin me me me me! George me me me me! Grant me me me me! ........
ReplyDeleteActually it is government us us us, but when you remember the ruthlessly thick-skinned skulduggery of people like Michael Gove before Boris's landslide, you cannot expect them to all pull together overnight, even for the general good of the country. They just cannot stop being polished professional politicians.
DeleteI would like to think that every single one of them is doing their level best. Am I wrong?
ReplyDeleteYes Pat, no one is going to do the right thing when we have politicians running the show. Their allegiance is to the party, themselves and an outdated philosophy.
ReplyDeleteSorry Tom for answering Pat...
I think you are slightly missing Weave's point, Thelma. I believe she thinks that every single one of them is doing their very best UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES (sorry, I'm not shouting - I can't find italics on this phone), and my point is that you would think and expect so, but it doesn't seem to be the case. If they ARE doing their best, then they are incompetently ignoring the advice of their own experts and practitioners.
DeleteI've just heard the military side of this from the army officer explaining the sheer scale and complexity involved in the logistics of providing equipment. They are doing a really good job by all accounts and are quietly mumbling about how the NHS's system is pretty much useless. This is some mitigation for the government, but why can they not tell us the truth? We need the truth now more than ever.
DeleteWell in the light of calming down and not fussing over 'missing emails. and snubbing the EU. The answer seems that the government should have kept quiet as to when delivery would take place as it is as you say complicated. Actually, never thought to hear myself say this, they have grasped the reins of government quite well, just lets hope they keep their promises.
ReplyDeleteI'd not be half as charitable as you Thelma. The mess with the EU scheme and the non existent Turkish consignment cannot be a good example of political skill, let alone "grasping the reins" of government. Governing well means avoiding avoid killing off your own people as much as possible, and not telling stupid lies and making silly promises that are guaranteed to make them look bad. Good politicians would not have be hiding from the jeers of the tabloids over cooperating with the EU when lives depended on it. This lot are bigoted incompetents with no sense of proportion and a poor grasp of priorities. They should be thanking our still-competent civil service on their bended knees for managing to keep the show on the road despite their dismal leadership.
DeleteThey are learning on the hoof
Deleteand have to listen to scientists, no
matter what some nutters say.