IF, as we are now being informed, we are over the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we should be asking why the UK is on course to have the highest death totals in Europe, outstripping much larger countries like Germany and France, and those that are much more densely populated like Belgium and The Netherlands, not to mention others like Italy and Spain.
Whether in total numbers, or per million, this United Kingdom might well have the highest number of deaths outside the USA, where they are receiving advice from their leader to ingest and/or inject hazardous substances.
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Why is it that, despite having more time to prepare, our social services are woefully short of the PPE needed, when we were supposed to have been practising for such an event since 2009?
Why are our NHS staff having to rely on donations of scrubs and other equipment from well-minded people getting together to manufacture it? Why are our care homes not completely run by organisations that put the care of their residents before profit?
If this pandemic shows us anything, though, it must be that no matter how low or high the job is rated by our MPs, we all need each other to ensure the survival of our society. No matter how successful a surgeon is, he needs a cleaner to keep his workplace clean, nurses to help with the operation and aftercare, and many other ancillary staff for a successful conclusion to his work.
When we do get back to some sense of normality, we cannot go back to using the NHS as some sort of political football by the two main parties. We can’t just go back to the old normal. We, as the people, must demand our social services are properly funded, properly equipped and properly appreciated by paying workers a fair remuneration, and especially, we must demand that everyone pays their share of the taxes needed, otherwise the sacrifices made by those who have paid the ultimate price will be for naught.
Graham Smith
Arbroath
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