Are you watching the Prime Minister speaking live on news channels?

Wrong on all levels WW ....14.23.14.
Am only too thankful that the Conservatives are in power.

£94 is less than some European countries, but they don’t have an NHS health system for a start.
If we raised it more, we would be giving considerably more
All told, than any other country.
Not to say that can’t do it, particularly for the coming six months.

Statutory sick pay at £94 a week is totally inadequate

I totally agree Whitewave . How can anyone (unless they have savings) be expected to live on this is beyond me.

Having said that I don't think small businesses should be made to foot the bill either.

I think you mean trisher lemon

I watched a repeat of Homes Under the Hammer this morning to avoid the news, I should be interested but I'm finding it depressing and boring in one go. it isn't that I think the government are making a bad job of all this it is just the endless commentary and the closing down of my social life bit by bit, no mothers day is making me particularly weepy with both sons working from home a log way away.

Watching and listening to Rishi Sunak live on TV at Select Committee as I type I think he is doing very well.

Measured, confident, respectful and honest and is on top of his brief.

pogs I don’t dare comment or say anything positive as when I did I was jumped on from a great height from certain of your fellow ideologues ????

pernilla have comfort in knowing that we are all in the same boat. Nothing lasts for ever.

^If we raised it more, we would be giving considerably more
All told, than any other country.^

That is false logic and completely untrue.

Neither false logic or untrue actually.
Having an NHS free at the point of use is a fantastic saving, and everybody uses their GP services quite apart from hospital treatment.
It may be a good idea to up the money slightly for a limited period this year, but I have no idea if that idea is feasible given all the vast amounts already needed to give elsewhere during this crisis.

Cancelling HS2 would save a lot

From the Lancet

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/18/coronavirus-uk-expert-advice-wrong

Schools are going to close on Friday, Thank God but it's not clear who will be looking after the children of key workers. Will teachers still have to go in?

Patrick’s on now he’s taken over from BJ uk schools to close

Sorry merlotgrani jumped in without reading previous comments

There have been lots of pictures of empty A & E waiting rooms all round the Country posted on social media. I wonder if this has been a kick up the backside for some who have been using the NHS A & E Department for minor things needlessly?

I have come in late in this thread. My personal feelings are that Boris is quoting the advice given by medical experts, these are not his own decisions. NHS, no matter how efficient and well funded, would definitely be struggling. This is a crisis, and it has to be managed. If you Boris haters have better advise for everyone, then feel free to give it.

I think a later result of all this will be people that will die because they are choosing/having to ignore symptoms that should probably necessitate a doctors appointment.

Yes Labaik that is a worry I am concerned about. People returning to work or shopping before they are fully recovered.
I have been self isolating since last week, because of health issues, I really don't want to go out, just in case!
I was listening to Jeremy Vine today and an infected 40 year old lady phoned in. My God, she could hardly speak because of the constant coughing, literally constant. It frightened me. How on earth she and others with the virus cope I don't know. It is going to be a long haul and we are all in it together. Keep safe GNs

I am not a “Boris hater” but I do think cutting back of the NHS and social care over the last 10 years is showing the gaps in the system. Why have we got 5x fewer ventilators/ICU beds than Germany and half those of Spain and Italy? Why haven’t our staff got enough masks and equipment compared to others? Who can say this has been a sensible measure?

What we also need to do as much as possible is to reduce our water/energy use. Try to throw out as little as possible. There will surely be problems with key workers in most industries being ill. What I did find sad today was that someone told me that there was an increased demand for plastic; just at a time when many of us were trying to reduce how much plastic we use.

Boris has been in charge for four and a half months, so you really can't blame him for the NHS. Perhaps if there hadn't been so much interference in the Brexit process some of the extra money promised might now be working in the NHS.

Blame the expensive hospital managers for the shortages of necessary equipment. Too many staff and not enough direction.

Blame GPs; too many part-time, and the Practices seem to have opted out of the coronavirus crisis and pushed everything on to 111, paramedics and the hospitals.

So many experts on GN

I’d rather watch and listen to the ones standing next to BJ

We can definitely put the shortage of public servants in every area down to the last 9 years of Conservative austerity. I'm not criticising Mr J's response to the crisis, I don't know enough to dismiss the plans he's making on the advice of experts. I'm relieved he's keeping schools open for 'vulnerable children' and arranging for a school meal to available for those children on free school meals.

I'm certainly criticising austerity and I fear the government is now unable to deny that slashing public services and failing to invest in the NHS has negative connotations.

My vulnerable young teenage DGS is hopping mad that he still has to attend school.He was hoping for many months off.
His parents are mightily relieved though.

I do hope all those looking after these children make it seem like a privilege and fun for them, perhaps ease up on uniform requirement or slots of fun etc.