Since precautionary measures were lifted on the 24th February, the vulnerable and the clinically vulnerable are now forced into their homes.
GP Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, has described the UK government as one that has prioritised “vino over vulnerability” saying that the parties held at No. 10 Downing Street during lockdowns and other measures, “laugh in the faces of the disabled community, and the health and social care staff who care for them."
"Can you imagine how it feels to hear this when the only human interaction some have had has been with a carer or a delivery driver or postman and an occasional wave through the window to family members or you have be unable to leave your house for two years with little or no social contact because of your disability, or because you are at high risk of contracting Covid-19, while government ministers, including the Prime Minister have held parties and social events." (Source: https://www.theguardian.com)
In the UK all measures have now been lifted which means disabled and clinically vulnerable people may have to remain in their own homes, so that they can stay safe.
What a caring society looks like
A caring society would have considered everyone's needs when planning to lift the restrictions and made the vulnerable and high risk groups a priority, instead of the needs of these groups who have been ignored.
Conclusion
Although recent events will have taken the spotlight off ministers over the 'partygate' scandal, it has not gone away. I am sure that now precautionary measures have been lifted, GP Dr Hannah Barham-Brown's opinions will echo throughout the disabled, vulnerable and the vulnerable communities.
It is difficult to comprehend how a Government whose job it is to tend to everyone’s needs are only tending to the needs of the majority. Since the restrictions were lifted on the 24th February, Covid cases are still rising, with Covid cases in hospitals also rising.
As the majority of people have their lives back, life is different for the many thousands of disabled, vulnerable and clinically vulnerable people who have been four-walled and as Dr Barham-Brown rightly says, our needs have been ignored. They should have been a priority in the lifting restrictions, so we too could have a life.
It is a moral and ethical travesty. As a disabled and vulnerable person, I should be able to have a voice. We have no life outside the home, neither do our spouses. For those who care, the moral and ethical travesty will not sit well with them.
I am so pleased this GP has felt able to speak out like this and give the vulnerable a voice. More and more should speak out, so we might have a proper debate about these issues, which are being ignored.
No one should be left behind in any governments' planning for dealing with the pandemic - and frankly it's a disgrace.
The truth is the UK government is clueless- period. We have in excess of 100k new cases daily, which isn't surprising as we are acting as if there is no virus out there, and yet 1 in every 14 people has Covid.
This is only going one way and it's not good. Thank you for writing blogs about Covid. You bring insight into what's happening out there on information we're not being told about through the UK Government.
Thanks. Yes I wholeheartedly agree. I feel vindicated, like a prayer has been answered.
The more information out there that validates what I know to be true and what I insightfully write about, the easier it is to cope with the anxiety I have.
And whilst this information isn't changing what the UK government are doing, through this kind of information, it is sowing a seed, which is what we need.
It bothers me that you talk about 'in excess of 100k new cases daily.' The government are failing us, they have failed me, since I am four-walled, but they don't care. I pray things change and soon.