Wake up to reality of what NHS staff endure

WHILST I support freedom of speech, if the letter by Helen Hims (‘Lockdown needs to unlock – NOW!’) had made a case based on personal liberty and the economy I would politely disagree, but this letter is just not factually correct.

Anyone watching the news this year will remember seeing patients being treated in ambulances outside hospitals, and we have been told about the delays in cancer treatments, shortages of oxygen and critical care nurses being shared across several patents when they really need individual attention.

New cases have only dropped by 2.3% in the last week when it was previously close to 30% – not plummeting as claimed. I am over 60 and am awaiting my appointment and will not be protected for over four weeks, so there is another factual error. I am not sure what is more insulting to NHS workers on the front line, the 1% pay offer or this sort of denial of the reality of what health workers have had to endure.

It makes me angry and sad to read this when I think of NHS workers, indeed anyone who has lost colleagues, friends or family who were neither very old nor previously very ill.

My nephew on an ICU has seen this happen all too often. Helen

Hims has clearly been living in a bubble – stay there, it will keep you safe from infection. Make your case, but please do not whitewash the facts – it is disrespectful. For my part, I do recognise that the lockdown has also had a terrible impact.

Michael Carter

Exeter