Because the government didn’t handle the pandemic properly in the first place, we are still having to face up to the fact that it is exceedingly likely that the situation will worsen. The severe cases which have to be hospitalised, are done so in the normal NHS hospital. How many of you remember the isolation hospitals, these were very effective at containing contagious diseases. In the effort to reduce costs, successive governments have also reduced the overall efficiency of the health service.

At one time there were a number of military hospitals, these not only looked after the ailments of the service men and women, they were also there as a backup service for the NHS if there was an overload. We are now in the case that there is a very heavy overload, the hospitals cannot cope with the pandemic and with the normal requirements, so normal requirements which at one time were thought of as urgent, suddenly have to take a back seat, according to the NHS they are not as urgent as they should be. The poor patient who has been waiting for treatment, has to wait a whole lot longer. For those of you who can remember when Tony Blair was Prime Minister if the backlog got too great, private hospital treatment was given, and paid for by the NHS. To the best of my knowledge that no longer happens, it was stopped due to costs.

China which apparently with this pandemic started acted quickly by putting in place severe travel restrictions. The politicians know that it needs to be done but because it would be unpopular with the younger element do not do this. We are certainly in the case of it needs to be done but we might lose some votes so let’s not do it. Even the special advisers of the government seem to differ on what is needed. If they differ what chance do the MPs have to make the correct decision, I am beginning to think that they have a trade likely approach in case you might upset somebody.