Firms must end Covid blame game

IT appears from all the statistics the dreadful Covid pandemic is finally under control thanks to the outstanding work of the vaccine teams.

According to the Government’s Road Map almost all restrictions will be lifted by June 21 when we can finally get back to something akin to normality.

What concerns me is that ‘Covid’ has become a byword for poor service.

Companies that refuse to answer the phone blame it on Covid.

Urgently anticipated deliveries that are sent to the wrong address use Covid as a justification. Customer toilets in retail stores that haven’t been available for months despite continuous trading use Covid as a convenient excuse.

When all the restrictions can be removed will customer service improve or will companies cling on hoping customers have become accustomed to the erosion of service standards?

Will I still have to make multiple phone calls to my GP practice in order to book a phone call two weeks in advance when what I actually need is 10 minutes with my doctor?

Am I going to be able to stand at the bar in my local and chat with friends or be forced to sit at a table?

Will delivery drivers stop playing knock and run and actually wait until I answer the door?

Will Police Chiefs go back to solving crime instead of harassing people taking walks in the countryside?

And finally, can we get away from the concept good customer service can be provided by staff ‘working from home’ whilst nursing babies and feeding the cat?

No doubt Covid will become something we must live with like influenza but can we please get rid of the wretched Covid vocabulary (in a socially distanced way of course)?