Ministers are doing their best over pandemic; blame the civil servants

From: Michael J Robinson, Berry Brow, Huddersfield.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock.
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No government could have done a better job than this one – Bernard Ingham

THE Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, is receiving criticism for inadequacies in aspects of his Ministry’s dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those of us who watched the BBC2’s transmissions of Yes Minister 40 years ago, heard a conversation in which Jim Hacker tried to insist on having his directives acted upon by saying to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey, than he, the Minister, ran the Ministry. Sir Humphrey insisted that on the contrary he, the Permanent Secretary, ran the Ministry, and that the Minister’s function was to decide on political policy.

How do you rate the Government's response to Covid-19?How do you rate the Government's response to Covid-19?
How do you rate the Government's response to Covid-19?
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I trust that the Prime Minister’s chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, spent his time in enforced isolation by sharpening some very big knives in readiness for dealing with the complacent time-servers in Whitehall who, to use the words of Nigel Farage, “have never had a proper job”.

He has made a start on the Treasury, and the Permanent Secretary in place at the Home Office when the shameful embarrassment of the Windrush scandal broke, has resigned.

He should find plenty to get to grips with at the Ministry for Defence procurement offices, and the budget forecasts at the Department for Transport stand woeful comparison with those of the Treasury’s.

Then he should find time for those departments at the Ministry for Health who might possibly be more responsible for planning for epidemics and for equipment procurement than the Minister who is sent out to take the flak.

Captain Tom Moore continues to inspire readers of The Yorkshire Post.Captain Tom Moore continues to inspire readers of The Yorkshire Post.
Captain Tom Moore continues to inspire readers of The Yorkshire Post.

From: Linda Lawson, Garden Mews, Brandesburton.

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WE are constantly hearing about the lack of PPE for care home workers, with repeated requests for the Government to provide this. Of course these carers should have this equipment – for far to long they have been under staffed and under valued (The Yorkshire Post, April 18).

However surely most (not all I realise) homes are privately owned and the costs for residents are in the region of approximately £1,000 per week.

So why is it down to the Government to provide for these private care homes? Beyond me, it surely is an employer’s duty to provide any safety care for his or her employees, whether there is a pandemic or not.

NHS and all carers are doing a fantastic job, so let us have them properly protected please.

From: J Hutchinson, Kirkbymoorside, York.

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I REMEMBER that many towns, both large and small, had clothing factories up until the 1970s that not only provided employment but helped to give a sense of pride in an area.

If these factories were still in existence, they could have stepped up to the breach and turned their production over to protective clothing for the NHS.

Yes it is true we would have to pay a few pounds more for our garments, but surely the price would be well worth it to make this country more self-sufficient and less reliant on imports?

Using the community spirit that has been engendered in these difficult time perhaps we can now get on top of the namby-pampy greedy ‘I want it, it is my right’ attitude that seems to have pervaded our psyche during the last two decades and get some pride back.

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We have proved over the past weeks that the majority of us can do it so now let’s march forward – and get some long term positivity – from this adversity.

From: John Bolton, Gregory Springs Mount, Mirfield.

OUT of all the issues thrown up by coronavirus, one of the most major must be clear to all concerned that needs to be dealt with extreme urgency – social care. Too long has it been the Cinderella and, with or without the long overdue Green Paper, there can be no further head-in-the-sand excuses at the highest level.

It is a shameful reflection on successive governments that it has taken a pandemic to force those concerned to focus on the real issues; human life and carers welfare with fair reward.

Most of those who stand out on Thursday evenings to clap are including care staff because they should be under one umbrella with the NHS.

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The donations to Captain Tom Moore’s marathon walking shows there is recognition across the population of the financial shortfall and a willingness to contribute a fair amount.

From: Bob Swallow, Townhead Avenue, Settle.

CAPTAIN Tom Moore – what an amazing person who epitomises the Second World War fighting spirit (The Yorkshire Post, April 21).

There is much talk of giving him some high recognition. Well, the Army might start promoting him to say Field Marshal (honorary).

He really does epitomise the bulldog spirit which Churchill used at the worst of times with ‘KBO’. Younger readers may not be familiar with this, if so, speak to someone in their 80s and they will put you right. Modesty prevents me from quoting it in full.

From: Barry Foster, High Stakesby, Whitby.

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WHAT a wonderful achievement by Captain Tom Moore. No doubt the managers in the NHS will now decide how to distribute the money raised by him and so many others. A suggestion: an immediate pay rise for all NHS staff and a big amount to the equipment required. No one, and particularly Tom, would argue with this.

From: Jarvis Browning, Fadmoor, York.

CAPTAIN Tom Moore – inspirational, brilliant, gracious. Who else, but a true Yorkshireman? Well done.

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

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