We must recognise heroic key workers
LIKE other countries from all over the world, the United Kingdom has, for the past year, been at war with a foreign invader, the coronavirus.
My opinion is that the battle should have been fought in the UK by a united cabinet, consisting of ministers from all parties, including MPs from Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. After all, the alien invader takes no notice of borders.
The war cabinet should also have called upon the experience of some of our elder statesmen and women, particularly those members that served their time as MPs with distinction.
Our service men and women should have been utilised much earlier for logistics and at international airports for testing visitors from overseas as early as April / May last year.
We must learn from the many mistakes made, and ensure we are better prepared for the next invasion to these shores.
Thanks to the amazing efforts of scientists from all over the world in producing a vaccine that repels the invader, we may eventually win the war, although I believe there are many battles still to be fought.
Although our losses to date have been staggering, with over 130,000 deaths recorded as a direct result of the hostile invasion, lives lost would be so much higher were it not for the heroics of doctors and nurses fighting valiantly on the front line for month after month. Their dedication and professionalism has saved thousands of lives and as I write from the comfort of my home, for them the war continues.
Their outstanding heroism deserves to be recognised in the same way that service men and women are recognised for their outstanding heroics on the battlefield. The names of all doctors, nurses and staff members who have sacrificed themselves in trying to save others during the pandemic should be placed on a roll of honour in the hospital in which they fell. In that way, we the public can honour them when we have occasion to visit the hospital.
I also believe that when the war is over, a date and time should be agreed upon where we can perhaps all stand silently or applaud, as a mark of our appreciation for all their efforts during what for them has been a nightmare year.
Phil Terry Pensford, Somerset