Should the country go to Level 5?

[Angelo]

39 ICU beds unoccupied now I see on Twitter. 

The big failing is a dysfunctional, not fit for purpose health service - sponsored by FFG.

[armaghniac]

The lockdown will kill people in the long term.

This is one of these slogans without any obvious basis in fact. How, exactly will the lockdown kill people in the long term? The economy is damaged anyway by the virus, the lockdown doesn't make it materially worse. Will the Chinese economy suffer more in the long term than US?

The likes of the following while not identifying specific deaths definitely supports the assertion that the risk of death through non Covid illness has increased;

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/30/charity-says-nearly-a-million-women-missed-breast-cancer-check

Of course the risk of other diseases has increased, this is also a consequence of the virus.  But one of the dangerous fallacies, often repeated by people trying to confuse the issue, is that these are caused by the lockdown. The reality is that the lockdown reduces the pressure on the health service and make the prognosis for other diseases better rather than worse. If you let Covid rip, then all forms of health service will come under pressure and people with all ailments with do worse.

39 ICU beds unoccupied now I see on Twitter. 

The big failing is a dysfunctional, not fit for purpose health service - sponsored by FFG.

There is a lot of truth in this, the country been self indulgent in allowing bollix persist in the health service, although a lot of money is spent.

[Angelo]

The lockdown will kill people in the long term.

This is one of these slogans without any obvious basis in fact. How, exactly will the lockdown kill people in the long term? The economy is damaged anyway by the virus, the lockdown doesn't make it materially worse. Will the Chinese economy suffer more in the long term than US?

The likes of the following while not identifying specific deaths definitely supports the assertion that the risk of death through non Covid illness has increased;

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/30/charity-says-nearly-a-million-women-missed-breast-cancer-check

Of course the risk of other diseases has increased, this is also a consequence of the virus.  But one of the dangerous fallacies, often repeated by people trying to confuse the issue, is that these are caused by the lockdown. The reality is that the lockdown reduces the pressure on the health service and make the prognosis for other diseases better rather than worse. If you let Covid rip, then all forms of health service will come under pressure and people with all ailments with do worse.

39 ICU beds unoccupied now I see on Twitter. 

The big failing is a dysfunctional, not fit for purpose health service - sponsored by FFG.

There is a lot of truth in this, the country been self indulgent in allowing bollix persist in the health service, although a lot of money is spent.

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

I think the 26 are the only country in the EU without universal healthcare? The priority of FFG over decades has been to hawk off state assets and services to their billionaire chums for a song.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The lockdown will kill people in the long term.

This is one of these slogans without any obvious basis in fact. How, exactly will the lockdown kill people in the long term? The economy is damaged anyway by the virus, the lockdown doesn't make it materially worse. Will the Chinese economy suffer more in the long term than US?

The likes of the following while not identifying specific deaths definitely supports the assertion that the risk of death through non Covid illness has increased;

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/30/charity-says-nearly-a-million-women-missed-breast-cancer-check

Of course the risk of other diseases has increased, this is also a consequence of the virus.  But one of the dangerous fallacies, often repeated by people trying to confuse the issue, is that these are caused by the lockdown. The reality is that the lockdown reduces the pressure on the health service and make the prognosis for other diseases better rather than worse. If you let Covid rip, then all forms of health service will come under pressure and people with all ailments with do worse.

39 ICU beds unoccupied now I see on Twitter. 

The big failing is a dysfunctional, not fit for purpose health service - sponsored by FFG.

There is a lot of truth in this, the country been self indulgent in allowing bollix persist in the health service, although a lot of money is spent.

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

I think the 26 are the only country in the EU without universal healthcare? The priority of FFG over decades has been to hawk off state assets and services to their billionaire chums for a song.

We don't have universal healthcare? Thats news.

[armaghniac]

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

Haven't they increased ICU capacity? This cannot be done overnight, without robbing nurses etc from other roles where they are also needed. Yet people come on here complaining about cancer services etc being disrupted while simultaneously advocating that resources be diverted to Covid so that people can continue going to the pub.

[Angelo]

The lockdown will kill people in the long term.

This is one of these slogans without any obvious basis in fact. How, exactly will the lockdown kill people in the long term? The economy is damaged anyway by the virus, the lockdown doesn't make it materially worse. Will the Chinese economy suffer more in the long term than US?

The likes of the following while not identifying specific deaths definitely supports the assertion that the risk of death through non Covid illness has increased;

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/30/charity-says-nearly-a-million-women-missed-breast-cancer-check

Of course the risk of other diseases has increased, this is also a consequence of the virus.  But one of the dangerous fallacies, often repeated by people trying to confuse the issue, is that these are caused by the lockdown. The reality is that the lockdown reduces the pressure on the health service and make the prognosis for other diseases better rather than worse. If you let Covid rip, then all forms of health service will come under pressure and people with all ailments with do worse.

39 ICU beds unoccupied now I see on Twitter. 

The big failing is a dysfunctional, not fit for purpose health service - sponsored by FFG.

There is a lot of truth in this, the country been self indulgent in allowing bollix persist in the health service, although a lot of money is spent.

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

I think the 26 are the only country in the EU without universal healthcare? The priority of FFG over decades has been to hawk off state assets and services to their billionaire chums for a song.

We don't have universal healthcare? Thats news.

https://lowdownnhs.info/comment/beware-the-irish-model-of-healthcare/

[Angelo]

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

Haven't they increased ICU capacity? This cannot be done overnight, without robbing nurses etc from other roles where they are also needed. Yet people come on here complaining about cancer services etc being disrupted while simultaneously advocating that resources be diverted to Covid so that people can continue going to the pub.

I don't think they did.

We're not talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul. We're talking about increasing ICU capacity, 6 months is a lot of time to increase capacity and put plans in place.

The levels in the north are huge but in the 26 it looks like they are taking extreme measures as their health service is simply unable to cope and has the lowest ICU beds per 100k in the EU.

[armaghniac]

https://lowdownnhs.info/comment/beware-the-irish-model-of-healthcare/

It wouldn't be difficult to write an article "Beware the NHS" given that life expectancy in NI is dropping.

We're not talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul. We're talking about increasing ICU capacity, 6 months is a lot of time to increase capacity and put plans in place.

Yeah, right, take people off the dole and train them as ICU nurses and doctors, 6 months should do it.

The levels in the north are huge but in the 26 it looks like they are taking extreme measures as their health service is simply unable to cope and has the lowest ICU beds per 100k in the EU.

How many ICU beds are in the North?

[Angelo]

https://lowdownnhs.info/comment/beware-the-irish-model-of-healthcare/

It wouldn't be difficult to write an article "Beware the NHS" given that life expectancy in NI is dropping.

We're not talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul. We're talking about increasing ICU capacity, 6 months is a lot of time to increase capacity and put plans in place.[/quuote]

Yeah, right, take people off the dole and train them as ICU nurses and doctors, 6 months should do it.

The levels in the north are huge but in the 26 it looks like they are taking extreme measures as their health service is simply unable to cope and has the lowest ICU beds per 100k in the EU.

How many ICU beds are in the North?

The north is unique, there is little autonomy for the O6, it is a failed statelet in every single respect, government is impacted and you have a coalition of two polar opposite parties on a state divided along sectarian line - and that's before you even mention the complete apathy and disregard from Westminister.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The lockdown will kill people in the long term.

This is one of these slogans without any obvious basis in fact. How, exactly will the lockdown kill people in the long term? The economy is damaged anyway by the virus, the lockdown doesn't make it materially worse. Will the Chinese economy suffer more in the long term than US?

The likes of the following while not identifying specific deaths definitely supports the assertion that the risk of death through non Covid illness has increased;

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/30/charity-says-nearly-a-million-women-missed-breast-cancer-check

Of course the risk of other diseases has increased, this is also a consequence of the virus.  But one of the dangerous fallacies, often repeated by people trying to confuse the issue, is that these are caused by the lockdown. The reality is that the lockdown reduces the pressure on the health service and make the prognosis for other diseases better rather than worse. If you let Covid rip, then all forms of health service will come under pressure and people with all ailments with do worse.

39 ICU beds unoccupied now I see on Twitter. 

The big failing is a dysfunctional, not fit for purpose health service - sponsored by FFG.

There is a lot of truth in this, the country been self indulgent in allowing bollix persist in the health service, although a lot of money is spent.

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

I think the 26 are the only country in the EU without universal healthcare? The priority of FFG over decades has been to hawk off state assets and services to their billionaire chums for a song.

We don't have universal healthcare? Thats news.

https://lowdownnhs.info/comment/beware-the-irish-model-of-healthcare/

Well if you found a blog...

Universal healthcare is not defined by some people having to pay once at point of entry. Lots of countries have that.

[Baile Brigín 2]

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

Haven't they increased ICU capacity? This cannot be done overnight, without robbing nurses etc from other roles where they are also needed. Yet people come on here complaining about cancer services etc being disrupted while simultaneously advocating that resources be diverted to Covid so that people can continue going to the pub.

I don't think they did.

We're not talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul. We're talking about increasing ICU capacity, 6 months is a lot of time to increase capacity and put plans in place.

The levels in the north are huge but in the 26 it looks like they are taking extreme measures as their health service is simply unable to cope and has the lowest ICU beds per 100k in the EU.

Our healthcare system is unable to cope?

Lowest if you exclude Finland, Greece, Slovenia, Portugal, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Someone is pissing in your ear about the southern health system. Its far from perfect, but you are way off here.

[Rossfan]

He's a totally brainwashed Shinnerbot......
If only SF had been allowed to form a 1 party Government after the February election they would have built 20 new State of the art Hospitals, staffed them, Nationalised the Private Hospitals, reduced Income taxes, abolished all other taxes and charges all in 6 months.

[johnnycool]

He's a totally brainwashed Shinnerbot......
If only SF had been allowed to form a 1 party Government after the February election they would have built 20 new State of the art Hospitals, staffed them, Nationalised the Private Hospitals, reduced Income taxes, abolished all other taxes and charges all in 6 months.

Considering the cost of the new childrens hospital, I don't think anyone can take the moral high ground on this one. Ineptitude would be an understatement.

what could and should be done is try and coax all those nurses and doctors who departed these shores to come back and make it worth their while.

[Angelo]

The big question would be why were the Gov sitting on their hands in the past 6 months and not looking to increase ICU capacity.

Haven't they increased ICU capacity? This cannot be done overnight, without robbing nurses etc from other roles where they are also needed. Yet people come on here complaining about cancer services etc being disrupted while simultaneously advocating that resources be diverted to Covid so that people can continue going to the pub.

I don't think they did.

We're not talking about robbing Peter to pay Paul. We're talking about increasing ICU capacity, 6 months is a lot of time to increase capacity and put plans in place.

The levels in the north are huge but in the 26 it looks like they are taking extreme measures as their health service is simply unable to cope and has the lowest ICU beds per 100k in the EU.

Our healthcare system is unable to cope?

Lowest if you exclude Finland, Greece, Slovenia, Portugal, the Netherlands and Sweden.

Someone is pissing in your ear about the southern health system. Its far from perfect, but you are way off here.

Don't think so.

The chart was up on the Virgin Media news at 5.30 yeseterday.

5 ICU beds per 100k population, the lowest in the EU.

Maybe you should look at the policies of FFG which have consistently looked to sell healthcare service off to the private sector to run at a profit.

[Angelo]

He's a totally brainwashed Shinnerbot......
If only SF had been allowed to form a 1 party Government after the February election they would have built 20 new State of the art Hospitals, staffed them, Nationalised the Private Hospitals, reduced Income taxes, abolished all other taxes and charges all in 6 months.

What we have is the known - FFG who have shown incompetence, mismanagement, disregard and a need to facilitate the private sector when it comes to healhcare.

And then we have the unknown which your subjective bias seems to frighten you more than the absolute carnage that FFG have caused when it comes to the health sector.

Odd that SF would worry you more than proven failures.

How is the world's most expensive children's hospital coming along?