Coronavirus – It’s the Nurses Fault!
Hancock Continues to Demonstrate His Incompetence
Another day another coronavirus briefing in which Hancock showed just how bad he is at his job. You would have thought that the Health Secretary would want to help and support the NHS. However, when he was presented with his own organisational failings he blamed the nurses. They use too much PPE.
Dangerous Strategy
Even if front line NHS staff were misusing coronavirus PPE blaming the country’s angels for his failings is a dangerous strategy. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is not amused. In a pointed statement of advice for its members it said that “Ultimately, if you have exhausted all other measures to reduce the risk and you have not been given appropriate PPE in line with the UK Infection Prevention and Control guidance, you are entitled to refuse to work. This will be a last resort and the RCN recognises what a difficult step this would be for nursing staff.” The RCN also said that it would help any nurses taking such action defend any court action.
Coronavirus PPE – Je Ne Regrette Rien
Handed the pefect oppotunity to apologise and admit that the situation could have been handled better in today’s coronavirus briefing Hancock ducked and refused to answer the question. He did not even follow Priti Patel’s style of non apology, she said “sorry if people feel there have been failings” . This non apology was echoed by Alok Sharma the business secretary on the Andrew Marr Show saying “I’m incredibly sorry that people feel they are not able to get this equipment.” At least he had the good grace to also say that there was “clearly a need for more protective equipment”. Seen, by some as a rebuke for Hancock’s performance. The more striking as it came from a junior minister.
Avoidance, Not Answers
Hancock has the look of a haunted and hunted man. He clearly does not enjoy the coronavirus briefings. He avoids questions, tries to misdirect by answering the questions he wishes were asked. To be fair all politicians do this, it is one of their little tricks. The problem for Hancock is that he is not very good at it. I said “the problem” truth is he has a few problems.
With Friends Like These….
Last week Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times said that the cabinet, civil servants, and special advisors were positioning themselves so that they will avoid the inevitable blame when this crisis is over. (Perhaps that is why Patel seems to have been dragged screaming and crying into her first coronavirus briefing). This week The Sunday Times has a piece that denies that there is a rift between Rishi Sunak and Hancock. The interesting question is why they had to deny the rumour, unless there is some prima facia reason to believe it.
Last week The Sunday Times reported that Hancock’s minesterial colleagues were refering to him as “Handjob”. Referring to someone as an act of masturbation does not imply any respect at all. Perhaps he is not paranoid perhaps his friends are out to get him.
Links
Sky News – RCN advice to nurses
Independent – Hancock refuses to apologise
The Guardian – Patel’s non apology
Phil’s British Heart Foundation Donation – you know it makes sense
