I have seen an Army field hospital and it was manned(and womanned) by TA doctors and nurses. So whilst the army has some accommodation the staff already have full time jobs with the NHS. The government to save money a closed the military hospitals and made the majority of the staff redundant. So the 3 armed services have limited medical resources. 


The Chinese built a 1000 bed hospital in 2 or 3 weeks. We could not do that as it would take 2 or 3 weeks to agree the fee proposal from a huge army of consultants if the process was fast tracked! Then endless meetings of "stake holders". I reckon with a fair wind they should be able to come up with a draft design in about 2 years. Either get the Chinese to do it or don't bother. You could of course requisition all the Premier Inns and just do the best you can but where will the medical staff come from? 


I think the process of flattening the Boris's curve is our only option.

Meanwhile S‘fix today have taken their website down, I presume it is to remove all non-essential items from sale.


Benchmarx and others have closed, so that knocks working and staying at home doing DIY on the head for many people.


Andy

Chris Pearson:

There are, however, hoards of staff officers. Whether an admiral or a general could remember any useful clinical skills is another matter entirely. ?

 

I'd guess at them not needing much beyond the capability of a good nurse - we aren't talking about traumatic battlefield injuries - basically it would be dealing with pneumonia cases before they swamp ITU, CCU's etc


I'd imagine as long as you can deploy MA4, O2 and Vacuum from temporary plant, and have enough basic ventilators, masks, intubation sets etc, then good to go


However, I'm not medically trained so I really don't know how hard this would be


Regards 


OMS

The other big loss to the services was the loss of nurses. I do remember a junior RAF officer not having a partner for the mess summer ball at RAF Halton being told by a senior officer to go over to the RAF hospital and " get yourself issued with a nurse". Of course such language is not acceptable in these more enlightened times!

Well, the 50,000 BoJo promised whilst we were "Getting Brexit Done" would be handy at this point, I guess - regardless of their dancing ability ?


OMS

that gives an huge number who would be in the isolation category.

But far fewer than are currently in 'lock down'. I'm only thinking out loud as it were, but the old military adage that 'he who defends everything defends nothing' comes to mind. A policy that relies on everyone doing the 'right thing' - many of whom won't be particularly motivated to do so as they personally won't be at significant risk (and so continue to travel on crowded underground services or stroll amongst crowds on Scarborough sea front) - is perhaps less likely to succeed than one that concentrates the effort where it is most needed and depends on those most motivated.


Also in a way there's only one kind of vaccine available - i.e. individuals own immune systems - I can't help feeling we're missing the opportunity to get a substantial chunk of the community 'immunised' at an early stage - which might have been an effective/reliable way of reducing the on-going transmission. Working with nature as it were, rather than against it.

I think the process of flattening the Boris's curve is our only option.

Absolutely - I not in anyway suggesting people don't follow the government advise. Rather like riding a tandem - following one policy consistently (even if it's a less than perfect one) will still give a far better outcome than trying to mix two incompatible approaches at the same time. My words are just a 'thought experiment'.


    - Andy.

Sending you all a virtual mug of tea and a biscuit since some of you feel you're missing out...  ?


?

Lisa


Thanks for the virtual tea and biscuits. Could you start a forum members favourite biscuit competition?


If Jaffa cakes are not allowed to be chosen as a biscuit I will have a fig roll. As it contains fruit it could be counted as one of your 5 a day, eat 5 and job done simples.

I have an embarrassing weakness for Bourbon biscuits. Flour, fat, sugar and salt; and frankly, hardly gastronomy! ?