Some good things should result from this awful *Covid* experience. Where would you like to see improvements ?

I hope that the extra cleaning being done in public buildings will continue, and that those working cash registers will still be protected by perspex shields, so we don't get an increase in colds and other infections once we are all vaccinated and "safe" from corona.

I would also like to see people really stopping to think whether they need to travel by air or own a car themselves in the interest of protecting the environment.

I doubt it will happen. As soon as corona recedes into history, I imagine people will pick off where they left off.

We have all seen the value of the care given by our NHS, but I'd like to see the NHS reformed so there is less waste and more recycling. They are always wanting more funding but can seemingly afford to not re-use crutches for example and in our case tell us to "pour away and waste 30 complete boxes of dialysis fluids and whole unopened boxes of fluid collection bags, connectors etc (enough for 30 days dialysis) which are in date and all in airtight sealed plastic bags which could easily be cleaned and sanitised in the same way you would clean any plastic surfaces. The people who supply them will not take them back, the hospital dialysis unit doesn't want them and the Kidney foundation hasn't replied to me. I have no idea of how much these must cost to buy in (they come from Singapore!) but even if each box cost £10 (though I suspect it would be at least double that) they are throwing away £300 plus the cost of the other items! Multiply this by however many other people are being told the same and they are tossing away a small fortune! Their care is second to none but their organisation and spending is disastrous!

We all love and admire the NHS but it does need a massive shake up in the way it is run, in my opinion.
I think it is appalling that so many youngsters are encouraged to go to university, thereby getting into debt for years, when they want to be nurses or teachers or policemen. Why on earth should they need a degree for that?
And I agree that the awful no contract jobs should be stopped and workers should be entitled to job security.
I hope that all of us, (including myself who loves travel)!) should stop and think more about what we are doing to the planet.

Bluedaisy I really don’t think that is at all feasible. Unfortunately because of our pressure on the world and our awful use of wet market practices etc there will be many more new viruses emerging, as they always have, and our global lifestyles ensures rapid spread unfortunately. Therefore we have to look at how we care for the planet and animals much more seriously and pressure places like China to improve the bio health of such awful environments like wet markets (ban them ideally but it won’t happen).
Otherwise I’d like to see much more home working being the norm. It was lovely to see many more people walking locally in the first lockdown and increased the number of socially distanced chats with near stranger neighbours. I’d also like to see many more people doing things With their children- bikes, picnics, walks etc like before as that noticeably dropped off as the first lockdown eased. I enjoyed the lack of planes in the sky, more birdsong, more sense of community and less cars around during Lockdown 1 and actually think the air felt nicer to breathe. Maybe I’m getting just old and longing for a simpler less rushed time lol

Infectious people understanding they should not mix.

i would like to see better trained staff - despite checking that the NHS appointment had the land line as the primary contact the covid testing team rang the mobile which is only turned on for emergencies. the message was not seen till 12 hours later and told it was too late. the contact team had 2 telephone numbers but only one was used . When i used to work i would use all telephone numbers to try and make contact. These people are not trained well at all -.

I would like to see freedom valued.

I’d like to see some respect for the natural world. No one seems to acknowledge that the disgusting and disgraceful practices regarding animals is how we got this in the first place. If we continue to rape nature we will bring worse than this on our heads. This is just a gentle warning.

With the threat of 300,000 arriving in this country soon from Hong Kong and so many business premises now empty, I think where suitable, should be turned into housing, with our own homeless given first refusal.

I would use 'non jobs' differently- the jobs you describe are usually essential and they keep the economic wheels turning, it also happens those workers are most subject to exploitation which obviously needs to change. For me 'non jobs' are jobs that contribute nothing such as many middle management and all agencies (parasites). David Graeber explains beautifully in his book 'Bullshit Jobs'.
So post lockdown I'd like to see everyone who wants to continue to work from home allowed to do so, real jobs shared more widely so everyone can have a better work life balance (so more part time and flexi time), and all day care for under 3s closed down.

Along with others I would like to see manufacturing in this country increase to make a more balanced economy. This is one of the good things that could result from this awful episode. We are going to need more and more vaccines and adaptations to vaccines in the future, we can increase the capacity to do so in this country as we already have an established vaccine industry which could be expanded. These would be high quality, high skilled, well paid jobs.

I can see the attraction of turning office spaces into homes, but the buildings are not always of a high enough standard to do this easily, might be better to demolish and build more planned housing, trying to build a community into the design. Not necessarily more expensive to do as so many adaptations needed to turn offices into homes.

Also agree about less travel, not only between countries but to try and reduce the need for so many short car journeys by, again, planning new communities to include local office spaces for home workers to rent, doctors surgeries, NHS drop in centres, the sort of places that bring people together.

I'd like to see more apprenticeships or training on the job, with day release for College/University.
I'd also like to take the lessons learned in the world of work in this pandemic - that it can be done from home, thus reducing the amount of pollution that transport of most kinds spews into the air.
Fantasy thought - that someone could find a way to use the elements of sun and wind power to fuel flight.

I think that the triple lock pension should be abolished and other non-means tested benefits for older people e.g. fuel allowance should be abolished. Money saved could be spent reducing national debt and investing in new industries and training young people.

What a wonderful response. The suggestions and remarks on here are really interesting.

Place more value on nature and the environment. We have lost 60% of UK wildlife sine the 1970s, perhaps we we will come to realise that continuing to concrete over large swathes of the countryside, whether it is for HS2 or lorry parks is not the way forward.

If we don't focus on global warming mitigation, we will not have enough food. I think that must be the first consideration or we will have nothing left to focus on!

If we want to become carbon neutral we need to support our natural marine and terrestrial ecosystems and manage pollution & farming so we eat less meat but have enough dairy, meat & fish for a balanced diet. We also need to eliminate fossil fuel use and exploit the biofuels we can readily produce to support energy production for everyday living, manufacturing and travelling.

Population is at its peak so our grandchildren will see empty houses as the population drops (our generation is nearly a fifth / 20%, of the British population) and there will be fewer old people so less need for care homes and more effective emphasis on healthy living. The NHS will be able to refocus on preventative medicine and health care when needed.

I wonder if most grans think I'm being too serious. I prefer to think I am just being down to earth and realistic.

Universal Basic Income. Read Rutger Bregman - Utopia for Realists. It’s eye opening. So so many benefits for society. Been trialled too and found to be successful.

Realism is what’s needed here. We’ve had enough of lies and misdirection. I totally agree with you.

kjmpde

i would like to see better trained staff - despite checking that the NHS appointment had the land line as the primary contact the covid testing team rang the mobile which is only turned on for emergencies. the message was not seen till 12 hours later and told it was too late. the contact team had 2 telephone numbers but only one was used . When i used to work i would use all telephone numbers to try and make contact. These people are not trained well at all -.

Completely agree. I’ve experienced the same issues.

jane1956

people stop buying junk from china hit them where it hurts in the pocket

Stop laying blame and accept responsibility. (As a nation). We’re part of a big world. Not isolated within it.

What an interesting thread.

WW010 I agree with your comment about blaming others. We're a' Jock Tamson's bairns.

I would like to see a much fairer distribution of wealth. There are trillionaires who have benefitted from these lockdowns. They need to pay far more tax. There needs to be more support for apprenticeships and vocational training.
There needs to be a removal of management consultants and top flight accountants from public service institutions such as the BBC and the NHS. These overpaid people are impacting heavily on the budgets and on the heads of those that actually do the work. The reinstating of Matrons on hospital wards. The NHS and BBC are the jewels in our British crown, how much we have appreciated them in a world of fake news and during a global pandemic. More education of children in life skills, like how to grow their own food, making do and mending, managing money, DIY, how to have successful relationships, how to nurture children, learning a musical instrument, encouraging creativity, but most of all teaching them how to be compassionate and kind before anything else. Instead of looking after number 1. People taking turns to be stewards of their street. I know this is all a bit utopian but not impossible. Compassion in Farming. The abandoning of HS2. Making life better where we are rather than jetting around the world escaping from where we are. I was staggered that 25 million of us were travelling in the early months of 2020. I'm sure we've been sent to our rooms to reflect on what we've done and how we can improve things. Let's not miss this golden opportunity to turn things around and change before its too late.

We should value all generations from cradle to grave.

Stop and think what each generation needs after this pandemic. We are going to have to adopt far more creative and practical solutions when tackling issues such as work, NHS, environment etc

It should not just be for the profit of a select few.

Shake up the admin and waste in the NHS. Pay nurses better salaries, think about moving away from nursing degrees.
Get our industrial base re-tooled to move away from Chinese imports.
Find a way to make the big global companies, such as Amazon, pay their full taxes in the countries of purchase.
Persuade our GPs to move away from telephone consultations as soon as possible, post covid.

I hope we all learn to appreciate how well we had it before this and don't take life and what we are lucky to have for granted ever again. I will see my friends as often as I can, no more excuses when I can't be bothered to go. Also take a good look around us and stop rushing around. I've had lovely walks, listening to the birds singing cos the traffic not as busy and I wish it could just stay like this.