Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

[HomerJSimpson]

We've gone to full escalation preparation. Main ICU now designated a "hot" covid area and the non-Covid patients now out in an outlying recovery theatre. Everything else we have up to 50 covid beds housed in ICU and theatre space. Sadly nowhere near enough vents to cover 50 beds, far less PPE gear to protect the number of staff to nurse that many patients. Just the 12 hour day again working with technicians and consultants to get the escalation processes in place. On the plus side some fantastic team spirit across the board today. We even had our CEO on the shop floor moving beds and equipment

 

[fundy]

In the aftermath of all this I'm expecting to see a host of interesting statistics. I'd expect burglaries to be down, fewer empty houses, violent crime down, no one boozed up as you say, traffic accidents down etc. There will be some quirky ones as well which we won't have expected. This is an unwanted but fascinating social and psychological experiment.

burglary has already moved from houses to cafes/bars/pubs down here

 

[fundy]

We've gone to full escalation preparation. Main ICU now designated a "hot" covid area and the non-Covid patients now out in an outlying recovery theatre. Everything else we have up to 50 covid beds housed in ICU and theatre space. Sadly nowhere near enough vents to cover 50 beds, far less PPE gear to protect the number of staff to nurse that many patients. Just the 12 hour day again working with technicians and consultants to get the escalation processes in place. On the plus side some fantastic team spirit across the board today. We even had our CEO on the shop floor moving beds and equipment

Thanks to you and all those on the front line!

Homie a question if I may, whats actually going on with PPE? Theres a massive gap between what the govt are saying and what those on the ground are saying!

 

[Crazyface]

Are you serious? This will kill that in 2 weeks. Even with the steps we've been taking.

If today's death toll stayed the same (it will get higher) that would be 207,685 dead a year. Are you really that idiotic?

These are real people. Jesus.

IF. Lets see in 2 weeks time. People do recover you know. Charlie has and it looks good for PM BJ does it not. If the people of Britain do as they are told, that's another debate that's hissing me off, then we should be able to control this. But whilst we are letting people go to work, two near me should not be operating with wagons rolling all over the bluddy area, then we will be in lock down forever. It's a disgrace how these firms are just ignoring what is going on. I know both the owners of these firms and they are slave drivers and money mad.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Thanks to you and all those on the front line!

Homie a question if I may, whats actually going on with PPE? Theres a massive gap between what the govt are saying and what those on the ground are saying!

It is getting through. We are getting regular deliveries and face mask protection seems to have really been ramped up. However there is still a marked lack of full PPE gowns and eye protection and the delivery is going to central stores. From there the issue starts. Its not getting filtered out properly from what I've seen and A&E seemingly getting priority and then other wards including ICU get the rest. More concerning, especially from the technicians is the consumables to keep the ventilators and other equipment fully functioning. Everything ordered via NHS procurement out of stock and going direct to manufacturers leads to price hikes and still a long lead time.

We have had the CEO in a meeting with our critical care consultant running the ICU show and the ICU senior nursing management team and from the titbits I've heard they've made it abundantly clear ICU are not getting their fair share of PPE. The technicians are working on their own fixes but also working flat out to turn round ventilators and pumps

It's a bit like these tests we were promised for front line staff. Not a sniff of them.

 

[fundy]

It is getting through. We are getting regular deliveries and face mask protection seems to have really been ramped up. However there is still a marked lack of full PPE gowns and eye protection and the delivery is going to central stores. From there the issue starts. Its not getting filtered out properly from what I've seen and A&E seemingly getting priority and then other wards including ICU get the rest. More concerning, especially from the technicians is the consumables to keep the ventilators and other equipment fully functioning. Everything ordered via NHS procurement out of stock and going direct to manufacturers leads to price hikes and still a long lead time.

We have had the CEO in a meeting with our critical care consultant running the ICU show and the ICU senior nursing management team and from the titbits I've heard they've made it abundantly clear ICU are not getting their fair share of PPE. The technicians are working on their own fixes but also working flat out to turn round ventilators and pumps

It's a bit like these tests we were promised for front line staff. Not a sniff of them.

Some of that must be quite worrying and other parts equally frustrating!

Theres obviously decent supply of the PPE just not getting to the right places quick enough?

The fact that price is even a consideration for something an ICU needs currently is utterly astounding and kinda worrying as is the lack of parts when needed

Whats the latest with tests? Theyre clearly starting to ramp up based on some of the news, hopefully were not too far from all frontline staff being tested asap

 

[Hobbit]

It is getting through. We are getting regular deliveries and face mask protection seems to have really been ramped up. However there is still a marked lack of full PPE gowns and eye protection and the delivery is going to central stores. From there the issue starts. Its not getting filtered out properly from what I've seen and A&E seemingly getting priority and then other wards including ICU get the rest. More concerning, especially from the technicians is the consumables to keep the ventilators and other equipment fully functioning. Everything ordered via NHS procurement out of stock and going direct to manufacturers leads to price hikes and still a long lead time.

We have had the CEO in a meeting with our critical care consultant running the ICU show and the ICU senior nursing management team and from the titbits I've heard they've made it abundantly clear ICU are not getting their fair share of PPE. The technicians are working on their own fixes but also working flat out to turn round ventilators and pumps

It's a bit like these tests we were promised for front line staff. Not a sniff of them.

The price hike is down to the volume you're purchasing. Its not a price hike, its list price. It works like this. Picking a number out of the air. List price £10. Buy 100, the price is £9. NHS procurement will buy a 1,000 at £8.

You're paying list price because of 2 things. You don't have a pre-purchase agreement, and you're not buying a volume to trigger discounts.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Some of that must be quite worrying and other parts equally frustrating!

Theres obviously decent supply of the PPE just not getting to the right places quick enough?

The fact that price is even a consideration for something an ICU needs currently is utterly astounding and kinda worrying as is the lack of parts when needed

Whats the latest with tests? Theyre clearly starting to ramp up based on some of the news, hopefully were not too far from all frontline staff being tested asap

Think the teccies frustrations is simply not having the same sort of supply chain to turn used vents round, enough pumps for 50 beds and NHS procurement seeming unable to source or deal with the needs. Going out directly to the manufacturers puts you into the open market and sometimes get caught in a sellers market. I think the meeting with the CEO will see our PPE situation improve (he's actually been really good since he came at standing by his word on all sotrs of subjects long before Covid-19)

As for the tests, thats a real tumbleweed topic. No-one knows or is saying. There is a growing frustration and indeed an underlying feeling of fear and people just want to know

 

[Deleted member 1740]

The price hike is down to the volume you're purchasing. Its not a price hike, its list price. It works like this. Picking a number out of the air. List price £10. Buy 100, the price is £9. NHS procurement will buy a 1,000 at £8.

You're paying list price because of 2 things. You don't have a pre-purchase agreement, and you're not buying a volume to trigger discounts.

Wouldnt that apply only to items there not on terms for already?

All the other day to day stuff like masks and PPE should be termed and heavily discounted.

 

[DanFST]

Of

IF. Lets see in 2 weeks time. People do recover you know.

It's great that you are sheltered in Cheshire. I've had 2 staff members loose relatives that would be here if it was "just flu". My girlfriend's small Italian village is losing people every week. My mates a physio, has been called into nursing and is really struggling to cope, even tho he says it's just the start. People all over the world are dying, pay them some respect. God forbid somone close to you reacts badly to it, will it be "just flu" then? The data is their, read it and get informed.

Of course, your a fool that politicises everything. If you hate BJ fine, but how's Italy doing, hows Spain doing? How's Germany, looks like their death rate is going up the same as EVERYONE elses after the 100th death (minus Korea)

 

[Hobbit]

Wouldnt that apply only to items there not on terms for already?

All the other day to day stuff like masks and PPE should be termed and heavily discounted.

No. NHS Procurement is a DHL majority owned company, courtesy of Blair - don't get me started on that one. Procurement have an agreement based on bulk buying, e.g., 100,000. A hospital might only buy 100. Why would a discount apply to that? Why would a discount that DHL has be applied to a purchase made by someone else?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Not sure I can agree with all of that
Plenty scumbag opportunists will be well aware of which shops and businesses are still trading and which are locked up and unattended
Ripe for breaking into

Eg...... Apparently close house golf shop was broking into last night....
Post on the northumberland golf union Facebook page

But you're right though, fascinating experiment indeed
Plenty frustrated people already

Highlight of my days right now.... Walking the dogs in the fields of the neighbouring farm?

I saw the Close House news ?. Incidentally, is it not largely own branded clothing there?

I was not trying to write a definitive list, just throw out some things we might see.

 

[clubchamp98]

Some of that must be quite worrying and other parts equally frustrating!

Theres obviously decent supply of the PPE just not getting to the right places quick enough?

The fact that price is even a consideration for something an ICU needs currently is utterly astounding and kinda worrying as is the lack of parts when needed

Whats the latest with tests? Theyre clearly starting to ramp up based on some of the news, hopefully were not too far from all frontline staff being tested asap

Prince Charles,Matt Hancock and the PM didn’t have any trouble getting tested.

 

[fundy]

Prince Charles,Matt Hancock and the PM didn’t have any trouble getting tested.

and?

The PM, a member of his cabinet and 2nd in line to the throne, of course theyre going to get tested

You think the PM shouldnt have been granted priority access to testing?

 

[User62651]

We've gone to full escalation preparation. Main ICU now designated a "hot" covid area and the non-Covid patients now out in an outlying recovery theatre. Everything else we have up to 50 covid beds housed in ICU and theatre space. Sadly nowhere near enough vents to cover 50 beds, far less PPE gear to protect the number of staff to nurse that many patients. Just the 12 hour day again working with technicians and consultants to get the escalation processes in place. On the plus side some fantastic team spirit across the board today. We even had our CEO on the shop floor moving beds and equipment

Appreciate your efforts.
The venting 'decisions' to be made by senior medics is a horrific situation to be put in.

 

[clubchamp98]

and?

The PM, a member of his cabinet and 2nd in line to the throne, of course theyre going to get tested

You think the PM shouldnt have been granted priority access to testing?

If your in a hospital bed and you had a choice of one of them three or a doctor, who would you choose?
The PM yes he is in charge ,but it’s a bad example testing the generals while the troops are dying.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

No. NHS Procurement is a DHL majority owned company, courtesy of Blair - don't get me started on that one. Procurement have an agreement based on bulk buying, e.g., 100,000. A hospital might only buy 100. Why would a discount apply to that? Why would a discount that DHL has be applied to a purchase made by someone else?

Masks are used everyday though, Ok not on the same level as gloves but nevertheless.

Its obviously a complex operation.

 

[fundy]

If your in a hospital bed and you had a choice of one of them three or a doctor, who would you choose?
The PM yes he is in charge ,but it’s a bad example testing the generals while the troops are dying.

Am I a selfish b***ard. If so I choose me, if not I choose the one who has the chance to save 10s, maybe 100s of thousands of lives

The argument shouldnt be about priority though, should be about sourcing enough to test those that need it as quick as possible

 

[clubchamp98]

Am I a selfish b***ard. If so I choose me, if not I choose the one who has the chance to save 10s, maybe 100s of thousands of lives

The argument shouldnt be about priority though, should be about sourcing enough to test those that need it as quick as possible

Yes I agree but was Charlie’s wife Camilla nessesary before a Doctor or nurse?
In a national emergency we need our doctors and nurses tested FIRST.

 

[Hobbit]

Masks are used everyday though, Ok not on the same level as gloves but nevertheless.

Its obviously a complex operation.

Its the unknown scale of things though. For example and picking daft numbers, during normal times only 100 masks might be used. What's the number now? 400? 600? 1000?

I don't know Procurement's back office procedures or agreements. I don't know why they aren't talking to other hauliers to get shipments out quicker. I do know that although Procurement are managing some deals, some of them are delivered direct to the hospitals. Quite who's doing what when I haven't got a clue.