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Being with infectious patients goes with the job, doctors, nurses, health care, cleaners, porters etc l don't think there is a demand, the virus will be way down the list of ones you'd not want to get.
Not heard one colleague mention testing & considering porters & cleaners brought the hospital to near collapse in a 2 week summer strike, IMO, it'd be a very bad idea.
Johnno260
Guru
- Location
- East Sussex
I think NHS staff, and any first responders as well, it's these people that we are going to rely on heavily.
I also think frontline military as well, they may need to be used to prop up services.
Too right death by respiratory failure is not at all pleasant or quick. It's often upsetting sight for staff who have to care for them. Having to see an increase in older people dying though it is bad enough. But when younger people die it hit's you even harder having to see. Once this thing get's going staff will not have time to talk about it as they do now. The true impact mentally will be years to come and it's often the people most close to them who have to try and help them. So if any feels gung-ho this ok but remember the ones who care for you are not robots and the job comes home with them and who ever is around get's the fall out. If you don't care about yourself then care about the people who care and ones who care for them.
The issue is if staff have to self isolate for 14 some could be having to do it for noting but don't know. If they did get tested and it was all clear that will be one more member of staff back to work within days and weeks.
Wobblers
Euthermic
- Location
- Minkowski Space
This paper estimates that asymptomatic transmission was 48% or higher in two outbreaks.
A more recent paper has come up with a 10% figure for asymptomatic transmission. (Rather irritatingly, this article doesn't give the source: i may try and track it down at some point).
It's clear that asymptomatic transmission is playing a role, possibly even the major one, in driving this pandemic.
Rocky
Hello decadence
Sending all the best. I do hope he gets fit and well again. I'm sure he will.
I agree, it's always the way with loved ones, we'd much rather have the illness than them.
Landsurfer
Veteran
We have kept ourselves debt free for over 20 years .... reasonable salaries, no HP, no flash company cars ( i have a Ford Transit Custom mini bus ... 4 kids ) all taxes paid on time .... ... it's been a struggle a few times but were still here ....
Rocky
Hello decadence
The two doctors in my immediate family would argue very strongly for testing, particularly of NHS staff. They both say this is a virus a health care worker doesn't want - that is because the patients they are dealing with often have a very high viral load and are extremely infectious. Health care workers, as a result, are at risk of a serious reaction to the infection.
NHS staff should definitely be tested. Backed up by comments of Witty and Valance.
The problem is the pontifications of PHE media people and senior PHE staff and politicians on their behalf. They have said earlier today it's ramping up to 25,000 tests per day. I don't see why anyone should trust them. They said this before grandly pronouncing it'd be 10,000 tests per day and the reality lagged severely behind the announcements. There are probably good reasons for the lag.
- Location
- London
what's that big load of tins on the bottom shelf?
Must say though I think the vultures are disgraceful I get the impression that they are being (disgracefully) wise and sensible on what they stock up on - energy dense staples etc rather than fripperies.
Must get out for some some shopping after my failed attempt at the weekend - was forced out today by Thames Water cutting off all my water yet again so did get a load of small tomatoes from the ever dependable Peckham stalls - for beefing up my tinned tomatoes.
Can happily live on tomatoes and my simple sauce.
(recipe available for @Mo1959 when the supplies of instant meals run out and she faces sprinkling salt on the saved boxes)
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Actually the hospital is now so quiet that some testing could be done, l think. But there are 1000's working here, not 100's. A porter, a cleaner, a nurse & a health care testing positive would have a huge knock on affect, who'd do their jobs if the huge demand materialises?
Rocky
Hello decadence
Anyone who doubts (i) the seriousness of this (ii) the dangers to health care staff (iii) what needs to be done, please read this tweet from Rachel Clarke
View: https://twitter.com/doctor_oxford/status/1239654325955289089?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/doctor_oxford/status/1239654325955289089?s=20
Rocky
Hello decadence
Yes, and one infectious member of staff, who is undetected and untested, could spread it very widely amongst staff and patients. Who would do all their jobs then? I just don't think you've thought it through.
