To think we’ll be in lockdown by Christmas

Actually, what makes things easier for care staff is supporting people who are content, treated appropriately, given choice and autonomy in their lives, and not overruled by institutional rules and regulations.

Alegrias1

You hope we'll be in lockdown DeeDe?

You hope the schools are shut?
You hope that all the shops are closed?
You hope we can't leave our houses except for a bit of a walk?
You hope that people are banned from seeing their relatives, especially if they live in Care Homes?

I wish people would think before they post.

Perhaps they do think before they post. Maybe they didn't mind being in lockdown. For some poor housebound people, their lives did not change that much. Maybe they have uncaring relations who they never see anyway. None of us knows what conditions we all live in.

My daughter works in a care home (not as a carer, but in an administrative capacity). I really do object to people who say the care homes have it easier when there is a lockdown or restrictions. The amount of abuse (and I use the word deliberately) that staff and carers get from some families would make your hair stand on end! Literally standing outside swearing and shouting to be let in. The carers are run off their feet due to lack of staff, the rigmaroles that have to be put in place so that those who want to see their loved ones are able to do so safely. The worst thing, according to her, is that it is only ever given as "advice" and is not the law, so they don't have a leg to stand on if someone insists on breaking the rules.

Alegrias1 I agree.

Does it matter? What will be will be regardless of speculation

To be cynical I do wonder whether restricting contact in this way is not so much to protect the residents, but to make things easier for the staff.

I think that is one of the stupidest things I have ever read on GN - and there have been plenty.

I worked with people with dementia through five weeks of a nasty flu epidemic over 5 years ago. In 5 weeks 7 people out of 42 died. While we cared for the dead and their relatives we also cared for those still sick and those not yet sick. It was an extremely good home and we worked 12 hour shifts (even those with families at home) to ensure there were sufficient staff available. One day I went from turning and cleaning sick people to laying out dead people to attending a small birthday party for one of the residents and her family. By the end of the day I just sat down and cried I was so worn out. And then we went back in and did it over again.

This is the reality for a care home where a virus is rife. Very little I read on GN makes me angry but right now I am spitting tacks.

I agree Amberone. It is perhaps a bit controversial to spell it out , but perhaps some GNetters do make very stupid posts.

I said that - I didn’t mean to cause offence, and I certainly didn’t mean to be insulting. I understand that the care staff must have seen the most awful consequences of Covid, but I speak from experience. I have two relatives in care homes locally and have been unable to see them even after the last lockdown was lifted. I am not alone - relatives of other residents, some of whom have essential care giver status, are routinely being denied access even to check on the care their relatives are receiving, which is a legal right. Our local Relatives Association has learned that the CQC is currently investigating 40+ care homes suspected of issuing blanket bans on visiting, in breach of government guidelines, and others who require residents to isolate for 14 days after leaving the home for medical treatment or other essentials - this is resulting in some being in almost permanent isolation. The Residents and Relatives Association is warning that this situation is in danger of becoming the ‘new normal’ in care settings and that access to family and friends inside and outside the home, as well as face-to-face contact with health practitioners is being restricted as the norm. So why is it happening ? When lockdown ended we all attempted to get back to the ‘new normal’, so why not care home residents ?

It's absolutely right that you take this further, Pammie

I do hope you get some resolution.
That's disgusting and wrongful.

Pammie, I think this is what the coronavirus act implicated with respect to the law. Have you looked on disability news service? They have quite a lot of information on how disabled people's rights have been taken away during the pandemic. I find it quite useful.

JaneJudge

Pammie, I think this is what the coronavirus act implicated with respect to the law. Have you looked on disability news service? They have quite a lot of information on how disabled people's rights have been taken away during the pandemic. I find it quite useful.

Thank you - I’ve used DNS before and found them useful when I was involved in campaigning against disability benefit cuts. Hadn’t thought of them for this though, will have a look.

HannahLoisLuke

maddyone

Are people in hospital with the Omicron variant? I haven’t heard anything about that yet. Is it truth or gossip?

Hundreds in hospital and the first death today according to the radio news.

Perfect example of getting it wildly wrong and scaremongering. ?

The first death is confirmed, and omicron making up 44 percent of recorded cases.

MissAdventure

The first death is confirmed, and omicron making up 44 percent of recorded cases.

44% in London only.

Oh, and 10 in hospital. Not hundreds.

Beg pardon.
Care to provide a link?
Not really, just joking. Honest!

Well, I could. But I won't.

To be honest, if I'm going to shuffle off this mortal coil due to covid, I'm not fussed which variant it is.

I don’t think Lord Snooty and his pals will dare to put us into lockdown but I think it should happen , not only to save lives but to save the NHS.

Far North 'It doesn't make sense - that because of their reckless behaviour last year, they have to say it's okay for everyone to be reckless this year.

It's much less likely that people will comply, of course, because of the government's selfishness & stupidity, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be asked to.'

Exactly!

People really should take responsibility for their own - and other's - well being, no matter what others do. No.10 should, of course, be leading by example. But that particular stable door is still swinging in the breeze.

What I don't uunderstand, every year for years....the NHS cry not enough staff, winter pressures, they can't cope. why haven't the govenment put an old, but new grade of nurse back in place... the old state enrolled nurse, 2 years training, was able to despense medication, give injections, change dressings as well as give basic nursing care.
There are thousands of people, who don't have the academic skills or money to get a university placement to become a Nurse!!! But with a few weeks in a school of nursing, few weeks on the wards for 2 years, we could have thousands of competent caring health professionals, to work for the NHS.
Also the govenment should fund thousands smore Doctor placements, and anyone that completes the training had to commit to work for the NHS only for the first 5 years after qualifying.

Couldn’t agree more Sparkynan. I’ve been thinking for a long time that it shouldn’t be necessary for nursing to require a degree. There are many very capable people who want a career in nursing but don’t wish to saddle themselves with the debt that university often leaves them with. Without the necessity of a degree it will open the possibility of a career in nursing to a vast number of caring, compassionate people.

The loss of state enrolled nurses is indeed very sad. They were the backbone of hospital care.

To those who are angered by the "new normal" - living in pandemic is not normal - we have to get a grip and get on with it. None of it is ideal; but then neither is a pandemic. At least we have the means to fight it now - even though some reject it all. I bet they won't reject the drugs when they are lying in intensive care.

…the government should fund thousands more doctor placements, and anyone who completes the training had to work for the NHS only for the first five years after qualifying.

I agree that more doctors should be trained. However with regard to working for the NHS for five years after qualification, that already happens. After training, doctors then work in the NHS as Foundation Doctors for two years, after which they can apply to a speciality of their choice where they spend a minimum of three years, some specialties six years, after which they can become a consultant. That means that doctors already spend a minimum of five years working for the NHS after qualifying as a doctor.

Luckygirl3

The loss of state enrolled nurses is indeed very sad. They were the backbone of hospital care.

To those who are angered by the "new normal" - living in pandemic is not normal - we have to get a grip and get on with it. None of it is ideal; but then neither is a pandemic. At least we have the means to fight it now - even though some reject it all. I bet they won't reject the drugs when they are lying in intensive care.

There was a thread on GN a little while ago which showed the amount of drugs and equipment needed to care for a Covid patient in ICU. That the anti vaxers are prepared to accept all of that when their lives are on the line, but will refuse the vaccine to prevent or at least mitigate the effects, is something that’s beyond me. I think the thread was asking what people thought about making vaccination mandatory, and it wasn’t a popular move.

I think rather than going down that route, we need more public information via media and press - a bit like the information campaign for AIDS in the 1980s. Hard to believe that there’s anyone left on the planet who doesn’t get it, but maybe accurate and easy to understand information broadcast regularly, and appearing in newspapers, targeted at those who remain unvaccinated would help some people to make the right decision. The effects of the virus, how being unvaccinated helps it to mutate and information on the efficacy and safety of the vaccines are things that come immediately to mind.

There will always be the hard core who won’t be persuaded but I think we need to do more to convince people to come forward and dispel the disinformation out there. I also think we should start making everyday life a lot harder for people who remain unvaccinated without good reason - working from home as far as possible, refusing entry into all public venues and all shops except for essentials, and mandatory, regular testing are things that come to mind. I don’t know how else we’re going to get out of this, because if large numbers of people remain unvaccinated I think it’s only a matter of time before a vaccine resistant variant emerges.