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Why are the Govt not allowing the scientists to dictate policy on the pandemic? Many of the issues are purely data and evidence based therefore it would be sensible to allow Public Health officials to determine the course of action with Govt in the supporting role.
With the political agenda controlling the response to what is a fast moving and changing public health crisis we have seen a slow and often contradictory response to increasing case numbers and hospital admissions. An independent response policy panel would have been beneficial.
Policy makers need to be informed, that information needs to be driven by the facts on the ground and the experience of global responses to the changing environment. We see countries like Japan, NZ, Australia and Vietnam making quick, deep and effective policies
...which have restricted infection and allowed them a swift and effective roadmap to recovery. We seem still to be in this cyclical stage of denial and recrimination of blame. Political agenda seem to override scientific and social reality. It makes no sense to continue this way.
Aside from the practical considerations is also one of messaging. Even the best governments have an issue with public trust, ours is far from the best and its record on trust is abysmal. To garner effective messaging you need effective messengers...
...NHS and PHE officials, the CMO and CSO needed to be leading these efforts. The press conferences should have been led by the scientists, not supervised by ministers. It doesn’t engender confidence in a population as divided as ours is at the moment.
And on the issue of division in our society. The sensible political solution would have been to set up a cross party, unity Governmental panel to issue the policy response on the pandemic. A single U.K wide policy driven by science and delivered by a combined political alliance.
Well, that’s my two penny worth for now. It’s work time for me.
