After almost 100 days - just over three months - I am being offered freedom! Yes, the solitary 'sheltering' folk can now brave the big, big world with its very scary virus. I must be honest and tell you that, although I should be celebrating and running out with waving arms and a cheer on my lips, I am scared; in fact quite anxious about leaving my familiar four walls. The North West had an R rate over 1 and there are signs that a second spike is on the horizon...
Before I take that plunge and say my goodbyes to you, I need to have another rant at 'our leaders,' who have 'stumbled' their way through the last four months, ignoring advice from the wise and learned. I won't repeat my previous criticisms, you can always look back* but I need to share my latest annoyance.
The current news is all about the 'world beating' testing and tracing. I don't expect you know that this lucrative service was handed out to Serco, G4S, Capita and, wait for it…Amazon! So, instead of utilizing the established NHS system of GP Health Clinics with their trained staff and records of patients, backed up by the local authorities, which also have detailed records of their populations, this programme was handed out to private call centres and bodies without information.
The CEO of Serco, a private corporation, is recorded as saying, "This will go a long way in cementing the position of the private sector companies in the public sector supply chain". So this move is another private bite at the NHS cherry and accounts for the delays and car park test centres.
My son and his GP partner had to travel thirty miles to get tested. They were handed an instruction sheet and a bag of equipment and told to do the test themselves. This could have gone to the health centre where she works. There would have been an experienced person to conduct this, send off and collect results. The 'Leaders' have given away these jobs to medically unskilled private companies, ignoring the experienced public services. So this was definitely a political decision.
My final gripe this week concerns children and their education. How confused this has been. After being instructed that 1st June was the date for the return of some primary children it was suddenly changed. In fact, local councils and parents must now decide. Also what happened to the free computers? It seems that 700,000 children read the internet from their phones! Inefficient and costly and these are the poorest children.
I need to point out that I am not the only person with criticisms. There are now demands for an enquiry by 27 national experts. Thousands died through initial poor and ignorant mishandling; maybe your relative. With another spike we could face this again. Congratulations New Zealand for coming out from the pandemic. We need to learn from you.
Well, do I go out? I think I'll avoid the shops, the buses and even a 'bubble' of family or friends. Not sure yet. I don't trust those in charge. So isolation for a bit longer will be my decision, with lone walks.
Finally, I need to mention good consequences. I have enjoyed the quieter roads and the empty and clean skies. These are improvements we should keep. We really need a greener healthier world. On that positive note I must say 'Cheerio for now'. I may come back with some thoughts. I wish you all good luck. Be careful, think and stay well.
Alice, in friendship.
* See previous posts from Alice In Salford Isolationland…
Part Twelve - click here
Part Eleven - click here
Part Ten - click here
Part Nine - click here
Part Eight - click here
Part Seven - click here
Part Six - click here
Part Five - click here
Part Four – click here
Part Three – click here
Part Two – click here
Part One – click here
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