NHS bosses write to the Health Secretary

Yesterday (20th of May) the NHS Confederation wrote to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock outlining the concerns of NHS senior staff across the country in reaction to the government's assertions yesterday surrounding their tracing system.

In the letter headed by Niall Dickson, stress was placed on the need for a clear, well worked and proficient test, track and trace system. Further emphasis was placed on the importance of local organisations and the use of localised action. This was supported by concern of a potential second wave of the virus, and the potential damage to NHS staff, patients and infrastructure. Mr Dickson also mentioned the fact that we are now nearly 10 weeks into the pandemic and such a strategy should have come much sooner.

The conclusion of the letter is in many ways the recurring rhetoric across the media since Boris' speech. The NHS Confederation are asking the government not to implement any lockdown relaxations until a strategy for exit has been discussed and clarified. I very much agree with such sound advice, and still have my reservations around the current relaxations that we have seen, and the unforeseen consequences that we are yet to experience.