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As pressure mounts over PPE and testing for coronavirus, ministers and their advisers appear to be focusing on saving careers, not lives
• Dave Penman is general secretary of the FDA union
As the government struggles to get a grip on the most significant public health emergency in a century, institutions and occupations previously subjected to acrimony, neglect or simple disregard have in the space of a few short weeks become the nation’s saviours. From the BBC to bin collectors, shop workers to care home staff: all have suddenly been recognised as vital and appreciated by public and politicians alike.
However, as pressure mounts over the capacity for coronavirus testing and the supply of personal protective equipment and ventilators, finding someone to blame rather than fixing the problem seems to be the priority for some at the heart of government. Well-placed anonymous sources have started pointing fingers at everyone from the cabinet secretary, Mark Sedwill, to Public Health England. Continue reading...