• We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas from all at Golf Monthly. Thank you for sharing your 2025 with us!

Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

The positive news right now appears to be that whilst the new strain seems to be more infectious it isn’t as “deadly” as previous strains through a combination of the vaccine and the virus itself not being as potent *according to scientist this morning.

Is it starting to become the new winter flu - or will this be the last big surge of it
 
pauldj42 said:
Probably why I said the problem is not solely down to non vaxxers which is what I responded to, obviously they hold some responsibility and personally I’d like to see them forced in to getting the jabs or their civil liberties removed.

But the point stands, the NHS and the Staff have suffered years and years of being taken for granted and not being looked after.

Covid is purely the straw that will break the camel’s back.
Click to expand...

And I'm afraid it has to be recognised that there is a level of arrogance in many medics that resist process change. The amount of time and money wasted by a refusal to adapt is staggering. (IMO. From professional experience. )
 
drdel said:
And I'm afraid it has to be recognised that there is a level of arrogance in many medics that resist process change. The amount of time and money wasted by a refusal to adapt is staggering. (IMO. From professional experience. )
Click to expand...
Good to know they’ve brought it on themselves.:rolleyes:
 
HomerJSimpson said:
As Frag said, most haven't had any sort of sufficient break and most of those from overseas haven't seen their families for over two years with the visiting restrictions (and additional quarantine requirements at certain times and the high level of infections in some parts of the world) and so that is having a huge impact as we roll towards the festive period, traditionally a time to be together. We are seeing a spike in infected nurses isolating and others waiting on PCR test results. We are seeing more cases come in, primarily as our respiratory ward is now full. Numbers may not be the same as last year but the pressures are as bad
Click to expand...
There is no arguement about front line staff and their work ethic/commitment, I certainly haven't questioned that. My question is regarding your comments on the increase of deaths and infections on your wards. The numbers presented to us are not showing any great increases, we are being warned that there may be a tidal wave of infections ahead of us but we are yet to see it. Maybe you could explain why your hospital is experiencing these increases.
 
8A74BB3B-6EF7-42CB-B4E7-6A5660A5BA76.jpeg
Some positive news from South Africa this morning on Omicron. The last three paragraphs hopefully throw in a dollop of common sense.
 
This is what is really confusing me at the moment. The African nations and the WHO appear to be totally dismissive about Omicron as any form of threat whereas the rest of the world have hit the panic button. Really not sure how a lay person is meant to digest this and form an opinion as there are 2 totally contradictory stances coming from medical authorities.
 
GB72 said:
This is what is really confusing me at the moment. The African nations and the WHO appear to be totally dismissive about Omicron as any form of threat whereas the rest of the world have hit the panic button. Really not sure how a lay person is meant to digest this and form an opinion as there are 2 totally contradictory stances coming from medical authorities.
Click to expand...

I suppose we’re a week or two behind and want to make decisions based on our own data.

It’s the last two paragraphs I find most encouraging. If experience in South Africa is a guide, maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel.
 
If Omicron really takes off and everyone infected has to isolate for 10 days....within a couple of months we could see a million people a month having to isolate.
Thats a large chunk of the workforce over and above normal who aren't there..
Shops, businesses will close for a while and parts of the NHS could find themselves without enough staff to keep basic wards going.
That, to me, is the biggest issue.
If you have a heart attack of youre in a crash or whatever and you need to go to hospital - there might not be enough people there to help you.
A bit of a domesday scenario but if Omicron gets it's act together and we don't do our bit to try and slow it then good luck to anyone in need of medical attention
 
Your Plan B? Staring at the calendar this morning and I realised that tomorrow is effectively D-Day when it comes to being told to isolate, from then your Christmas may be ruined if you are told to self isolate or you test positive etc. I was just wondering how many have a Plan B in place? For us we are having Christmas with my folks and other family so at present we're using up food in the fridge/freezer as we'll be away for a week or so. However, should the worst happen we're probably going to need an emergency Christmas dinner! At present we're just hoping for the best and, if we are unlucky enough in being told to isolate, that it won't be on Christmas Eve when it's too late to do anything about it!! :LOL:
 
We have a plan B.
Supposed to be going to the in-laws on the Wirral.
Mrs isn't well and might not be able,e to travel, plenty of time for any of us to catch IT so I've got the makings of Xmas Dinner in the freezer should circumstances conspire against us.
 
SocketRocket said:
There is no arguement about front line staff and their work ethic/commitment, I certainly haven't questioned that. My question is regarding your comments on the increase of deaths and infections on your wards. The numbers presented to us are not showing any great increases, we are being warned that there may be a tidal wave of infections ahead of us but we are yet to see it. Maybe you could explain why your hospital is experiencing these increases.
Click to expand...
Try actually checking the actual figures. Daily numbers have increased from 3k-ish in June to around 50k in late November. The 'tidal wave' IS here!
 
pauldj42 said:
Good to know they’ve brought it on themselves.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Not what I said. I gave an opinion based on real world examples and what i have observed. There is a lot of waste which causes the guys at the front line more work/duplication than necessary with non-core stuff.
 
williamalex1 said:
2 of my family work in a private care home , they MUST be triple vaccinated, tested twice a week and temperature taken on entry to the building.
If their temperature is too high they're sent home, without pay .
Click to expand...

Surely they can challenge being physically sent home without pay without proof of sickness. That’s unlawful deduction of wages. I’m no HR expert but if I was turn up to work and told to go home I’d be paid. Everywhere I’ve worked and I’ve done it myself is come to work in a crap state and hope someone takes pity and sends me home. (Not now I get full sick pay mind)
 
Billysboots said:
View attachment 39941
Some positive news from South Africa this morning on Omicron. The last three paragraphs hopefully throw in a dollop of common sense.
Click to expand...

SA is different. Apart from seasonality is UK avergae age, population density, commuting, international travel hub etc. etc. Surely it is prudent to try and qwell the rate of infection to buy time for vaccinaton/immunisation, medication development, NHS capacity. You only get one bite at these decisions: better to be chastised for over reacting that see more deaths due to NHS being over-burdened in all areas
 
Billysboots said:
...
Some positive news from South Africa this morning on Omicron. The last three paragraphs hopefully throw in a dollop of common sense.
Click to expand...
Isn't that 'old news' though.
From memory, Omicron was always described as being less virulent than previous strains. Though (on the negative side) it also seems to spread faster than other strains - thus the call for booster that give significant protection.
The strategy seems to have changed somewhat from general protection to protecting those in most danger of serious issues - those in care homes etc (who, imo, were treated very badly in earlier phases of the pandemic), who would also increase the strain on the NHS.
 
Last edited:
Foxholer said:
Try actually checking the actual figures. Daily numbers have increased from 3k-ish in June to around 50k in late November. The 'tidal wave' IS here!
Click to expand...
Case numbers are not the metric that is important in this particular discussion, a better one would be patients admitted to hospital - and as per the latest dashboard the Tsunami is not here yet.
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare?areaType=nation&areaName=England
However an interesting metric is the ratio of hospital admissions to case numbers and this, due to vaccinations and prior infections, is at an all time low.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top