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There are three myths about our politician's handling of the pandemic which keep being trotted out in press conferences that are deeply misleading.
It is vital we do not accept them.
[Thread] https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/news-opinion/myths-politicians-handling-coronavirus-crisis-19852974
It is vital we do not accept them.
[Thread] https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/news-opinion/myths-politicians-handling-coronavirus-crisis-19852974
Firstly, every single government and politician since the dawn of time has tried to spin events to make themselves look better. It is guaranteed.
The coronavirus pandemic is, and will remain, one of the most fought-over parts of historical real estate for decades to come.
The coronavirus pandemic is, and will remain, one of the most fought-over parts of historical real estate for decades to come.
We already hear well-rehearsed narratives being trotted out in both the UK & WG press conferences.
Sometimes these come back to bite them like Hancock’s claim they'd 'thrown a protective ring' around care homes in Eng. But too often these distortions of the past are accepted.
Sometimes these come back to bite them like Hancock’s claim they'd 'thrown a protective ring' around care homes in Eng. But too often these distortions of the past are accepted.
But it is vital that we challenge this rewriting of the narrative because not only does it let our elected representatives off the hook for the failings they have made but it also means we are doomed to repeat them there next time there is a public health emergency.
So what are theses myths?
#1 “Wales never ran out of PPE”
This is a favourite of health minister Vaughan Gething that he has repeated in several press conferences.
The idea that at no point did healthcare workers lack for personal protective equipment is completely false.
#1 “Wales never ran out of PPE”
This is a favourite of health minister Vaughan Gething that he has repeated in several press conferences.
The idea that at no point did healthcare workers lack for personal protective equipment is completely false.
During March and April I interviewed dozens of healthcare workers who were working in Covid-filled hospitals either with incorrect PPE or none at all.
@WalesOnline wrote so many stories about health workers who were sent into battle undefended at the very peak of the epidemic.
@WalesOnline wrote so many stories about health workers who were sent into battle undefended at the very peak of the epidemic.
Just 45 seconds on Google demonstrates the inaccuracy of these claims by the health minister. This story tells of doctors having to buy goggles from a DIY shop. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/nhs-staff-wearing-goggles-diy-17985511
There was the heartbreaking story of Gareth Roberts who was a nurse from Aberdare who died from Covid after being sent to look after Covid patients with “a paper mask, plastic gloves and a pinny”. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/nurse-65-who-died-after-18087828
I could go on and on.
A survey by the BMA in May last year found that 67% of doctors in Wales did not feel fully protected from Covid-19 at work.
27% of doctors had reported shortages of gowns with long sleeves in settings while caring for the sickest Covid-19 patients.
A survey by the BMA in May last year found that 67% of doctors in Wales did not feel fully protected from Covid-19 at work.
27% of doctors had reported shortages of gowns with long sleeves in settings while caring for the sickest Covid-19 patients.
For the health minister to proudly declare now that Wales never ran out of PPE is not just wrong – it is an insult to all the people who died because the Welsh Government failed to equip them.
Myth #2 “The NHS was never overwhelmed”
This is another statement which is a favourite in Welsh Government press conferences.
This idea that the Welsh NHS was not overwhelmed is a ridiculous thing to claim.
This is another statement which is a favourite in Welsh Government press conferences.
This idea that the Welsh NHS was not overwhelmed is a ridiculous thing to claim.
Before Covid-19 we wrote stories every winter about how the NHS was being overwhelmed by normal winter pressures.
This is inevitable as we have a tiny critical care capacity compared to other similarly well-off nations.
This is inevitable as we have a tiny critical care capacity compared to other similarly well-off nations.
As one senior NHS worker told me: “Of course the NHS was overwhelmed by coronavirus – we are overwhelmed every winter."
Of course this depends on your definition of "overwhelmed" but to me it is when it when something is so stretched it fails to fulfil its full purpose.
In March Mr Gething cancelled every non-essential procedure in the health service because of the huge wave coming down the road.
In March Mr Gething cancelled every non-essential procedure in the health service because of the huge wave coming down the road.
Bear in mind that “non-essential” includes lots of cancer procedures as well as hip replacements.
These had barely got going again when they were again cancelled for the bigger wave in winter.
These had barely got going again when they were again cancelled for the bigger wave in winter.
This means there are people all over Wales in serious pain and have been for at least 12 months – all because the NHS can’t treat them at the moment.
To suggest that the NHS is not overwhelmed will come as a shock to the thousands sitting in pain.
To suggest that the NHS is not overwhelmed will come as a shock to the thousands sitting in pain.
At the very least you would expect a functioning health service to be able to treat people who are in serious pain. But they can’t because there has been so much coronavirus. The very act of cancelling these procedures is a demonstration of an overwhelmed health service.
This is in no way to play down the sterling efforts of staff in the NHS itself.
They have been incredible.
But for a politician to proudly claim the NHS has not been overwhelmed is to ignore the facts before our eyes.
They have been incredible.
But for a politician to proudly claim the NHS has not been overwhelmed is to ignore the facts before our eyes.
#3 “The Kent variant caused the second lockdown”
There is no doubt that the far more infectious Kent variant has played a key role in the growth of the virus in Wales over the winter.
There is no doubt that the far more infectious Kent variant has played a key role in the growth of the virus in Wales over the winter.
But to suggest, as several politicians have done, that it is simply because of this variant that we are now in lockdown is to ignore both the figures and series of key decisions made by the Welsh Government throughout the autumn.
Cases had risen relentlessly since early Sept. The local lockdowns slowed but didn’t stop it.
TTP couldn’t get on top of it. The fire-break put a dent in the growth for a fortnight though a lot of bad feeling was caused by the PR mess from the ban on non-essential item sales.
TTP couldn’t get on top of it. The fire-break put a dent in the growth for a fortnight though a lot of bad feeling was caused by the PR mess from the ban on non-essential item sales.
Then, when we emerged from the fire-break, it was into a set of far more lenient rules which allowed four people to meet in hospitality settings.
It was all of these decisions and actions that resulted in us failing to get a handle on the situation – not the new variant.
It was all of these decisions and actions that resulted in us failing to get a handle on the situation – not the new variant.
Even close to Christmas, when the full threat posed by the new variant became apparent &we went into a lockdown before Xmas, it still wasn’t the dominant strain in Wales (though it is now).
Yes, the more easily-spread variant has driven infection but to suggest it is the only reason we are still in lockdown and young people haven’t been to school for two months is to let politicians off an enormous hook.
Blimey that was a long thread.
You can read the full story here: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/news-opinion/myths-politicians-handling-coronavirus-crisis-19852974
You can read the full story here: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/news-opinion/myths-politicians-handling-coronavirus-crisis-19852974
