Coronavirus (2021) thread

[bobbyowenquiff]

I kind of see your point, but in fairness doctors and nurses have worked very hard over the last 20 months or so, and they are dedicated individuals that want to help people.

I find it quite depressing when people slag them off as being lazy, when the real ire should be directed at the 'reforms' this government imposed on the NHS that resulted in the loss of 50,000 doctors and nurses, 17,000 hospital beds, and regional centres that co-ordinated everything.

Doctors haven't opted out of home visits, it's the government telling them they can if they want to.

How far does our healthcare have to descend to under the 'teflon tory' propaganda before people wake up and understand what's happening to the NHS?

I can't understand why some GPs (certainly at my practice) have essentially shut down access. The phones are not answered and you can't book appointments for any treatment unless it is weeks in advance. They don't open at weekends. They don't provide online bookings let alone home visits. Yet they are apparently prioritising jabs for patients to protect them from a virus which has an incredibly low death rate instead of helping sufferers from more serious illnesses (cancer, heart disease etc) who have been sidelined. Am I missing something here?

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

I can't understand why some GPs (certainly at my practice) have essentially shut down access. The phones are not answered and you can't book appointments for any treatment unless it is weeks in advance. They don't open at weekends. They don't provide online bookings let alone home visits. Yet they are apparently prioritising jabs for patients to protect them from a virus which has an incredibly low death rate instead of helping sufferers from more serious illnesses (cancer, heart disease etc) who have been sidelined. Am I missing something here?

Changing GPs?

I rang mine this morning, explained my issue, was phoned back by 11 and given a face to face appointment at 2pm.

Prescription given and collected by half past and back home by 3.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

You know, I've treated this virus with caution and respect, I am fully vaccinated and never stoped wearing a mask because it's not just about me. We've not personally lost anyone in our family directly to covid but have been living much more hermit like for 18 months, and I don't mind doing that overall. But when the BBC have a leading story of 'next pandemic could be worse', I get quite angry.

Could, would, should. Sheer speculation and fearmongering, Becky Morton the author should be ashamed. I won't link it here because it's unnecessary, as is the article itself.

The BBC, the Daily Mail, and the Guardian have been pathetic with their coverage. Distorted and politicised stories which suit their own agendas. Hysterical reports about so called Covid "cases" (just positive tests not cases) with no context or no reference to the bigger picture which shows that very few people are getting seriously ill and the Micron strain looks very mild compared to what we have seen.
The media only interview the people with the "strongest comments" and those people are often pushing their own agendas. The information in science and medical journals has been factual and mostly accurate. The quotes from Prof Sarah Gilbert were nuanced and balanced. It has always been the case that we are at risk from dangerous pandemcs and she was only suggesting in a sensible way that we must not complacent in the future. But, of couse, it was spun out of proportion by the BBC and others. The UK media has pretty much disgraced itself during this crisis. You really can't trust it to tell the truth. Everything is distorted and that leaves a vacuum for the social media loons to make hay.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

Changing GPs?

I rang mine this morning, explained my issue, was phoned back by 11 and given a face to face appointment at 2pm.

Prescription given and collected by half past and back home by 3.

I have totally bypassed my GPs. I have a long-running health issue which needs regular hospital scans.I booked up the hospital department directly and the specialist and booked a date with no contact with the GP. They found a potential life-threatening problem and I am now on a treatment pathway at the hospital. The GP is not involved at all.
I have had virtually no contct with my GP practice for over 12 months. I sorted out my own jabs directly. I have also used online net doctor services for minor issues which require prescriptions (consultations cost abut £30) So what are the GPs actually doing? The pharmacies have also been fantastic for advice on issues.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Javid: Gap between infection and infectiousness may be shorter with Omicron​

‘Javid says scientists believes the "window between infection and infectiousness may be shorter" for the Omicron variant than Delta.’


That would be good news in my mind, I think.

I was symptomless for 4 days. If I'd presented symptoms earlier then it stands to reason I'd be less likely to have infected others. On that basis I'd definitely agree with it being good news.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

That headline is fuckin terrible. But i have a feeling people like the woman concerned need to come up with a headline shocker every now and then as otherwise she’ll slip back into obscurity whence she came.

I am a fan of Prof Sarah Gilbert, Her research has saved many thousands of lives, perhaps millions worldwide. But her comments were part of a broader lecture in which she was making a plea for more investment so that we could be better prepared for the variants of the future. Her valid comments were reported very selectively with no mention of the broader picture. That's just shit, dishonest, journalism which was compounded by a negative scaremongering headline. A story needs full context and balance to make it reliable.

 

[grunge]

now this is one alternate theory!!

 

[grunge]

I was symptomless for 4 days. If I'd presented symptoms earlier then it stands to reason I'd be less likely to have infected others. On that basis I'd definitely agree with it being good ne

Transmission tends to start about 2 days before symptoms from what I read.

 

[Rammy Blue]

Fuck covid.

 

[Manc in London]

I have totally bypassed my GPs. I have a long-running health issue which needs regular hospital scans.I booked up the hospital department directly and the specialist and booked a date with no contact with the GP. They found a potential life-threatening problem and I am now on a treatment pathway at the hospital. The GP is not involved at all.
I have had virtually no contct with my GP practice for over 12 months. I sorted out my own jabs directly. I have also used online net doctor services for minor issues which require prescriptions (consultations cost abut £30) So what are the GPs actually doing? The pharmacies have also been fantastic for advice on issues.

I am unable to get any appointments within a fortnight. I now just ring 111. They then instruct the GP practice to arrange an appointment. Just to be clear, I am not the kind of person who goes to a GP over a cold, sore throat or temperature.