|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 3126 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jun 2018 | 7 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Willzay"You were quick to blame the protesters for a potential second spike; I was merely pointing out that there have been large amounts of people flouting the rules beforehand. In the end, the Government have never taken lockdown seriously - just how look at how quick they went from “stay at home, protect the NHS” to “stay alert, control the virus”.'"
I actually said "social distancing" which includes [iall[/i of these who haven't followed that directive since the lockdown began.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 36144 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2004 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Dunkirk Spirit"Well, now that the politically correct brigade have gained the upper hand, Bloody anarchy is what we’re getting, aided and abetted by the Home Secretary and police chiefs themselves. (Where’s Boris)'"
I’m afraid cliche though it is it’s true in the case of laws and order.
The job of the government is to enact strong legislation and then far more importantly back the police up when they attempt to enforce it. All modern politicians completely negate that responsibility as they chase Twitter likes. This is even more offensive when done by a governments and especially its load mouthed Home Secretary who claims to be tough on crime. They are a bunch of deceitful windbags who lack any morality or backbone.
The police or should I say the senior officers are just as bad if not worse. There ludicrous desire to make the police force an off shoot of Social services has led to a systemic breakdown in policing.
The police are not here to be liked, there only job is to enforce the laws to the letter, nothing more. Parliament legislates the Judiciary decides who’s right and whose wrong.
Further to this the police due to ridiculous equal opportunity laws are stacked with officers who are either physically are mentally incapable of doing their core job MAINTAINING THE PEACE!
The only quota should be are you physically and mentally strong enough to do unpopular work. It simply isn’t enough to be chatty with old folks or down with the kids, by its very nature policing will turn nasty on occasions. The people they deal with are nasty, if they weren’t we wouldn’t need a police force.
An officer must be tough, strong and aggressive when needed. I don’t doubt the personal bravery of many police officers but when you have nothing to back it up with you’re as good as useless.
As a nation we need to wise up and stop clinging to a notion of Brittiness that no longer exists. We been a neW type of policing. Let the local constabulary deal with the community policing. Then create a national force to deal with the tough stuff.
I don’t mind if a person is black, gay or female so long as the are up to the job. We need a force that intimidated when needed and the hugely diluted police of today are no longer up to it.
That won’t please the liberals on here and will probably get locked or deleted but it’s the truth and it will put in the end.
If it doesn’t then it’s anarchy and when that happens we will see just how quickly to pond life turn on there liberal patrons.
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Moderator | 21217 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2008 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
Moderator
|
| Quote ="Miro"Absolutely dismayed that Trinity are cashing in on this fake pandemic. It's quite obvious the 6 companies that own most of the worlds media are enacting a global ritual to recondition the population into a fear state, paving the way for a medical tyranny in which your every move will be recorded, analysed and reacted to, your submission required, and your rights surrendered...
the stuff of sci-fi nightmares
So what next ? Trinity sponsored “track and trace” ? Trinity sponsored Covid19 vaccines?
I imagine the reuse of masks, and touching and spit soon make the mask useless at best. But it is unreal to walk on the street and see masks, an acceptance by society to say, "I recognize you as a threat"'"
Hang on, which is it? It's either a fake pandemic or the masks are worthwhile. You can't have it both ways. Trolling score 1/10
And to just correct your last line, I agree with this ......But it is unreal to walk on the street and see masks, an acceptance by society to say, "I recognize [i =#FF0000Covid19[/i as a threat
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Moderator | 21217 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2008 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
Moderator
|
| I can't keep locking every thread that starts just because someone says something stupid or wants to talk politics.
This is a rugby forum and to be honest I should just cut everything that isn't tenuously related to rugby but in the interests of fair play and the fact that we don't really have any rugby to talk about.
So from now on, if you want to post about politics etc, post it in here. It still has to adhere to the AUP. If you are bullying or offending people just for the sake of it, your post will be trashed and you'll get a warning or a ban, just like normal.
If you are offended by people who post about politics, this isn't the thread for you.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 4803 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jul 2009 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Miro"Absolutely dismayed that Trinity are cashing in on this fake pandemic. It's quite obvious the 6 companies that own most of the worlds media are enacting a global ritual to recondition the population into a fear state, paving the way for a medical tyranny in which your every move will be recorded, analysed and reacted to, your submission required, and your rights surrendered...
the stuff of sci-fi nightmares
So what next ? Trinity sponsored “track and trace” ? Trinity sponsored Covid19 vaccines?
I imagine the reuse of masks, and touching and spit soon make the mask useless at best. But it is unreal to walk on the street and see masks, an acceptance by society to say, "I recognize you as a threat"'"
Jeez...which planet have you been living on for the past 4 months, pal ???
I have been posting on here for a few years now and have obviously read some right old garbage, but this absolutely takes the biscuit....10/10 for posting the biggest load of diatribe I have ever had the mis-fortune to read, now where is that 'ignore' button ???
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 5732 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Feb 2011 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="REDWHITEANDBLUE"Yes I did and I refer to my previous you obviously have a thing about it 1000 cops versus 10,000 protesters if they arrest per se they diminish resources and lose control by other tactics they take out the key ones or where faced with no alternative, what happens in the background and out of eye sight is a different matter and that is what will come to bear in the coming days and weeks and that was my point about the media, I am not going to get drawn out about public order tactics but I would I would be interested in what your perceived solution would be to deal with such issues then I maybe able to to give you some counter debate or corroboration on how you would deal with such matters
Oh and before I joined the police I served in the Merchant Navy for over 8 years working in conflict zones and post police the UN again in conflict zones so to say I am appalled by the setting fire of the Union Flag and the idiot that thought swinging on the red duster at the cenotaph was appropriate I look forward to the media reporting when their doors get stoved in.'"
I’d like to meet the piece of sheite that was perched on the cenotaph trying to set fire to Union Jack, one thing is for sure social distancing will be out of the window. I’ve scraped better things off the bottom of my shoe.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 10565 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Aug 2002 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Vasty sums it up perfectly.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 1473 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jan 2020 | 5 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="vastman"I’m afraid cliche though it is it’s true in the case of laws and order.
The job of the government is to enact strong legislation and then far more importantly back the police up when they attempt to enforce it. All modern politicians completely negate that responsibility as they chase Twitter likes. This is even more offensive when done by a governments and especially its load mouthed Home Secretary who claims to be tough on crime. They are a bunch of deceitful windbags who lack any morality or backbone.
The police or should I say the senior officers are just as bad if not worse. There ludicrous desire to make the police force an off shoot of Social services has led to a systemic breakdown in policing.
The police are not here to be liked, there only job is to enforce the laws to the letter, nothing more. Parliament legislates the Judiciary decides who’s right and whose wrong.
Further to this the police due to ridiculous equal opportunity laws are stacked with officers who are either physically are mentally incapable of doing their core job MAINTAINING THE PEACE!
The only quota should be are you physically and mentally strong enough to do unpopular work. It simply isn’t enough to be chatty with old folks or down with the kids, by its very nature policing will turn nasty on occasions. The people they deal with are nasty, if they weren’t we wouldn’t need a police force.
An officer must be tough, strong and aggressive when needed. I don’t doubt the personal bravery of many police officers but when you have nothing to back it up with you’re as good as useless.
As a nation we need to wise up and stop clinging to a notion of Brittiness that no longer exists. We been a neW type of policing. Let the local constabulary deal with the community policing. Then create a national force to deal with the tough stuff.
I don’t mind if a person is black, gay or female so long as the are up to the job. We need a force that intimidated when needed and the hugely diluted police of today are no longer up to it.
That won’t please the liberals on here and will probably get locked or deleted but it’s the truth and it will put in the end.
If it doesn’t then it’s anarchy and when that happens we will see just how quickly to pond life turn on there liberal patrons.'"
spot on Vastman. I agree with all your comments especially a national police force, which is long overdue, in terms of efficiency if nothing else!
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 2959 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jun 2015 | 10 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Dec 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Don't think our beloved PM helped much when he allowed the Cheltenham race meeting to go ahead, and the Italian football fans coming over here right at the outset did he BG. This government takes the first prize for hypocrisy.
My view on the current protests?
Correct to protest, but wrong time to do it. However, doubtful if the protests would have had anything like the same impact if they'd waited a couple of months.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 1374 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Nov 2018 | 6 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Sep 2022 | Oct 2020 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Willzay"That’s the thing - they didn’t. They’re quick to condemn the general public but when it’s one of their own....'"
I was meaning from the public's perspective but fair point, you're right they didn't.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 4593 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2008 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Nov 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="TheDreadnought"[list=[/listWell well old boy, seems you’re on your own here.
Bring back the RL! Soon be back in the Northstand with a beer, can’t wait!'"
No he isn't!
|
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 10565 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Aug 2002 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Redscat"
My view on the current protests?
Correct to protest, but wrong time to do it. However, doubtful if the protests would have had anything like the same impact if they'd waited a couple of months.'"
You mean the burning of the flags on the Cenotaph so close to the anniversary of D Day had more effect?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 2959 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jun 2015 | 10 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Dec 2024 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Wollo-Wollo-Wollo-Wayoo"You mean the burning of the flags on the Cenotaph so close to the anniversary of D Day had more effect?'"
NO! Wrong to do it because we're in the middle of a bl***y pandemic, Wollo, if you hadn't noticed!!! Nothing to do with burning flags or D Day.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Board Member | 4958 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jan 2003 | 22 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="vastman"I’m afraid cliche though it is it’s true in the case of laws and order.
The job of the government is to enact strong legislation and then far more importantly back the police up when they attempt to enforce it. All modern politicians completely negate that responsibility as they chase Twitter likes. This is even more offensive when done by a governments and especially its load mouthed Home Secretary who claims to be tough on crime. They are a bunch of deceitful windbags who lack any morality or backbone.
The police or should I say the senior officers are just as bad if not worse. There ludicrous desire to make the police force an off shoot of Social services has led to a systemic breakdown in policing.
The police are not here to be liked, there only job is to enforce the laws to the letter, nothing more. Parliament legislates the Judiciary decides who’s right and whose wrong.
Further to this the police due to ridiculous equal opportunity laws are stacked with officers who are either physically are mentally incapable of doing their core job MAINTAINING THE PEACE!
The only quota should be are you physically and mentally strong enough to do unpopular work. It simply isn’t enough to be chatty with old folks or down with the kids, by its very nature policing will turn nasty on occasions. The people they deal with are nasty, if they weren’t we wouldn’t need a police force.
An officer must be tough, strong and aggressive when needed. I don’t doubt the personal bravery of many police officers but when you have nothing to back it up with you’re as good as useless.
As a nation we need to wise up and stop clinging to a notion of Brittiness that no longer exists. We been a neW type of policing. Let the local constabulary deal with the community policing. Then create a national force to deal with the tough stuff.
I don’t mind if a person is black, gay or female so long as the are up to the job. We need a force that intimidated when needed and the hugely diluted police of today are no longer up to it.
That won’t please the liberals on here and will probably get locked or deleted but it’s the truth and it will put in the end.
If it doesn’t then it’s anarchy and when that happens we will see just how quickly to pond life turn on there liberal patrons.'"
I think you need to read up on Robert Peel and his principles that still stand today around policing, whilst I agree i to some parts of your post much of it is way off the mark. For instance you refer to the role of the police is to enforce laws to the letter, sorry but that's rubbish if you want that head off to the states that what they call law enforcement, we call it policing that allows officers discretion when dealing with offenders, the police are public and the public are the police in the UK.
To reflect the community there is a need for representation from all parts of the community not just in policing but the wider side of life hence the Equality Act, You are probably aware of positive action and its difference to discrimination if not what it means is that all those that go through the police selection criteria go through the same processes.
You mention the police are an off shoot of social services well that's always been the case the people that no one wants to deal with usually end up being dealt with by the police fact. On top of this there is the Crime and Disorder Act that was brought in by a previous Labour Govt requiring by law that public services work together on certain things the clue is in the title of the Act. In addition there was the introduction of the HR Act, coupled on top of this various enquiries such as the Lawrence Enquiry and many more.
The police are societies bucket for criticism your post highlights it perfectly they cannot do right for doing wrong, if you or anyone else on reading this wants an insight join the Special Constabulary as volunteer Police Officer or just volunteer to assist the police, represent your community practice what you want to preach and try and a make a difference, its free voluntary work the recruiting is always open.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Moderator | 21217 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2008 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
Moderator
|
| I'm somewhere between Vasty and RWAB view.
A national police force would make a big difference but it only needs to be a coordinated approach rather than a seperate entity. We could be so much better at that.
However, that is actually a small part of what the police do. We don't need gestapo in the community.
Police need to be supported so they are able to stop criminal activity without fear of prosecution all the time, but equally if something like the George Floyd incident happens it needs to be dealt with properly not swept away. That's a really fine line to work with.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 17983 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2011 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="PopTart"I'm somewhere between Vasty and RWAB view.
A national police force would make a big difference but it only needs to be a coordinated approach rather than a seperate entity. We could be so much better at that.
However, that is actually a small part of what the police do. We don't need gestapo in the community.
Police need to be supported so they are able to stop criminal activity without fear of prosecution all the time, but equally if something like the George Floyd incident happens it needs to be dealt with properly not swept away. That's a really fine line to work with.'"
"Dealing with the George Floyd incident properly" is still unlikely to happen, as it would require the vast majority of the population to suddenly lose their prejudice (either intended or subconscious.
There is racism, of different levels, across all societies in all countries.
I've yet to meet anyone who admits to being racist but, most people do have some level of prejudice against some people for all sorts of reasons and some are downright racist.
The stuff that was allowed back in the 70/80's was appalling but, importantly, it didn't seem that way at the time.
We have a prime minister that has himself used language which is just totally inappropriate and yet he, is charged with ensuring that we have a fair and tolerant society
There was going to be an Islamophobia enquiry into the Tory party prior to the General Election, which they conveniently managed to move a more general enquiry but, I doubt that this will happen in the current Parliament, if it happens at all but, they were all too keen to play the racist card with the anti-Semitic rhetoric that was endlessly thrown at their opposition.
As for the protests, it seems quite ridiculous to have any mass gatherings that could spread the virus but, many would argue that, in the longer term, this issue is far too important to ignore and as with anything that needs to change, timing and momentum are key, to getting things done.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Moderator | 21217 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Oct 2008 | 16 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
Moderator
|
| I agree with what you say Wrencat but just to clarify, when I said dealing with the incident I meant the immediate people involved in his death, not global racism. That is a change that will take generations.
But change has to start somewhere and as a famous person once said, if not now then when?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Captain | 3126 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jun 2018 | 7 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Redscat"=#FF0000Don't think our beloved PM helped much when he allowed the Cheltenham race meeting to go ahead, and the Italian football fans coming over here right at the outset did he BG. This government takes the first prize for hypocrisy.
My view on the current protests?
Correct to protest, but wrong time to do it. However, doubtful if the protests would have had anything like the same impact if they'd waited a couple of months.'"
The PM was following Scientific Advice.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
International Star | 17983 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2011 | 14 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="BarnsleyGull"The PM was following Scientific Advice.'"
Well, he said that he was
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Club Coach | 5086 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
May 2005 | 20 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Nov 2022 | Nov 2022 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="BarnsleyGull"The PM was following Scientific Advice.'"
It's just unfortunate that his scientific advisers appear to have the scientific knowledge of an amoeba. That is my opinion at least, based upon some of the absolutely appalling press conferences they have given.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 1345 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jan 2006 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Dec 2021 | Dec 2021 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="PopTart"Hang on, which is it? It's either a fake pandemic or the masks are worthwhile. You can't have it both ways. Trolling score 1/10
And to just correct your last line, I agree with this ......But it is unreal to walk on the street and see masks, an acceptance by society to say, "I recognize [i=#FF0000Covid19[/i as a threat'"
Where did I say masks are "worthwhile"? Trolling? is this how anyone with an opinion is treated on here? Pathetic.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 1345 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jan 2006 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Dec 2021 | Dec 2021 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="djcool"Wow, have you burnt down any 5g masts recently too?'"
Sorry, what are you accusing me of to consider I may burn down a 5G mast?
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 11916 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2010 | 15 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Fordy"It's just unfortunate that his scientific advisers appear to have the scientific knowledge of an amoeba. That is my opinion at least, based upon some of the absolutely appalling press conferences they have given.'"
I think most of them have been gagged to be fair. Except for the one guy who dared to speak out against Cummings by saying “the rules apply to all”.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 11916 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Apr 2010 | 15 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Jan 2025 | Jan 2025 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="Miro"Where did I say masks are "worthwhile"? Trolling? is this how anyone with an opinion is treated on here? Pathetic.'"
Just curious as to why you think this pandemic is fake. Just because either yourself or anyone you know hasn’t been affected by it doesn’t mean it’s not real.
|
|
|
Rank | Posts | Team |
Player Coach | 1345 | No Team Selected |
Joined | Service | Reputation |
Jan 2006 | 19 years | |
Online | Last Post | Last Page |
Dec 2021 | Dec 2021 | LINK |
Milestone Posts |
|
Milestone Years |
|
Location |
|
Signature |
TO BE FIXED |
|
| Quote ="REDWHITEANDBLUE"Please free to PM me so I can arrange for you tell my wife it's fake after losing her father disgraceful post'"
Sorry for your wife's loss, however, where did I say no one dies of C-19. I said the claim that we have a pandemic is "fake" quite a different scenario you agree?
Also, please check that C-19 was the cause, here is what NHS Dr Malcolm Kendrick has to say.
"As an NHS doctor, I’ve seen people die and be listed as a victim of coronavirus without ever being tested for it. But unless we have accurate data, we won’t know which has killed more: the disease or the lockdown?
"I suppose most people would be somewhat surprised to know that the cause of death, as written on death certificates, is often little more than an educated guess. Most people die when they are old, often over eighty. There is very rarely going to be a post-mortem carried out, which means that, as a doctor, you have a think about the patient’s symptoms in the last two weeks of life or so. You go back over the notes to look for existing medical conditions.
Previous stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, angina, dementia and suchlike. Then you talk to the relatives and carers and try to find out what they saw. Did they struggle for breath, were they gradually going downhill, not eating or drinking?
If I saw them in the last two weeks of life, what do I think was the most likely cause of death? There are, of course, other factors. Did they fall, did they break a leg and have an operation – in which case a post-mortem would more likely be carried out to find out if the operation was a cause.
Mostly, however, out in the community, death certification is certainly not an exact science. Never was, never will be. It’s true that things are somewhat more accurate in hospitals, where there are more tests and scans, and suchlike.
Then, along comes Covid-19, and many of the rules – such as they were – went straight out the window. At one point, it was even suggested that relatives could fill in death certificates, if no-one else was available. Though I am not sure this ever happened.
What were we now supposed to do? If an elderly person died in a care home, or at home, did they die of Covid-19? Well, frankly, who knows? Especially if they didn’t have a test for Covid-19 – which for several weeks was not even allowed. Only patients entering hospital were deemed worthy of a test. No-one else.
What advice was given? It varied throughout the country, and from coroner to coroner – and from day to day. Was every person in a care home now to be diagnosed as dying of the coronavirus ? Well, that was certainly the advice given in several parts of the UK.'"
|
|
|
|
|