Dickens had right idea over pandemic
At this time we might give a thought to those living through the 1846-60 cholera pandemic.
In 1854, London’s poor suffered badly from the disease and although Charles Dickens was at the time in Boulogne, he wrote an article straight away for Household Words, the publication he edited. Dickens reiterates his ongoing concerns regarding the “preventable wretchedness and misery in which the mass of people dwell”.
He was a forceful campaigner for better sanitation and the provision of clean drinking water.
With 10,000 deaths in London alone and over 23,000 countrywide, it perhaps makes us think a bit more about our current situation and theirs in the 19th century. Perhaps we could do with Dickens now.
Chris Ewer
Hon Sec, Dickens Fellowship workers providing direct care to Covid-19 patients” should have medical mask, gown, gloves and eye protection (goggles or face shield).
Those in higher risk situations - eg: intensive care - should have more extensive protection.
The government says that they are taking action. But even the latest GOV.UK guidelines released last week, still do not meet WHO standards, particularly with regard to gowns and now they tellus they are running out of gowns. Health secretary
Matt Hancock has spoken of the ‘Herculean’ PPE effort but this is unfortunately not being felt by many frontline workers who remain inadequately protected. Many frontline staff do not have access to long-sleeved gowns and have to take their potentially infected uniforms home to wash themselves, which also puts their families at risk.
These are just some of the reasons why I have joined the campaign on change.org calling for adequate PPE for all frontline NHS workers.
I hope our MPs will be proactive, not reactive, and show solidarity with our frontline healthcare workers. Clapping every Thursday will seem like an empty gesture if it isn’t backed up by concrete actions to support and protect people putting themselves in harm’s way.
Dominic Harper