Charging those with uncertain immigration status for NHS services was introduced as part of Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’. Non-payment of bills can result in being reported to the Home Office and used as a reason for not being granted settled status. This system remains in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, actively discouraging health care seeking […]
As a paediatrician, I share the grave concerns of nurse Ian Wilson who has two children at school in Lewisham and experience of working with covid-19 infected patients. In an open letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock last week, he pleaded that we were not enrolled against our will in a giant experiment that could […]
Dr Ron Singer is the vice-president of Doctors in Unite and was the chair during its centenary in 2014. He joins the podcast today to talk about the utility of trade union membership during the coronavirus pandemic.
Richard Horton, respected editor of the medical journal ‘the Lancet’, aptly summed up the current pandemic in the following words: “Coronavirus is the greatest global science policy failure in a generation. Austerity blunted the ambition and commitment of government to protect its people. The objective was to diminish the size and role of the state. […]
It is an insult for the government to claim that a life assurance pay out of £60,000 to the families of a health or social care worker who dies of COVID-19 in any way compensates for the loss of life. Despite their protestations that they “will do whatever it takes”, this again shows the scant […]
IWMD this year is unique in falling in the middle of the UK lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lack of appropriate PPE has thrown millions of public facing workers into harms way as they do not have the right tools to protect themselves from infection. In this environment it is vital that IWMD is […]
Since the start of the lockdown we have called for contact tracing and widespread testing as the only means to establish the true prevalence of COVID-19. This is what the World Health Organisation urged all countries to do from the very beginning. We welcome Matt Hancock’s announcement of testing for symptomatic key workers and their […]
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Episode 3: Work and Pensions
Today we’re joined by public health and medical sociology professor David Blane, to discuss the rise in the state pension age, the effect of work in later life on health, and the changing perceptions of key workers since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
This week, Dr Jack Czauderna joins the podcast to talk about contract tracing and his upcoming coronavirus pilot study in Sheffield.
The solidarity expressed through weekly applause for the NHS, carers and key workers has been truly inspiring, and a great source of support for all staff. But we need those in power to do more than just clap for us. The NHS and local authorities have been starved of resources for the last ten years. […]
Doctors in Unite 