Michelle Dewberry: Time the NHS became the National Health Service and not the National Covid Service

Michelle Dewberry: Time the NHS became the National Health Service and not the National Covid Service
outdate the mandate mono 24 Jan
Michelle Dewberry

By Michelle Dewberry


Published: 24/01/2022

- 18:24

Updated: 26/01/2022

- 12:09

'Several hundred thousand of us, have been waiting over a year for that care and still don't have an end in sight'

On April 1st, around 80,000 members of staff potentially face the sack in NHS England, if they do not have their first Covid vaccine.

They make up around 5% of the workforce who are currently unvaccinated. The policy affects many more beyond in other care settings.


Now this is a topic which has been discussed for a while, but runs the risk of being ignored with the current circus surrounding the government and Prime Minister.

Whether a healthcare worker should have to be vaccinated against Covid, or not, is a topic which brings much debate. Huge protests happened again last weekend, across the country.

Now before some of you think this is not a topic for you and you reach for the off button - let me be clear: The NHS in England has a current backlog of 6million. 6 million of us waiting for healthcare, from a system that we have paid for and that should be there to provide us care.

Several hundred thousand of us, have been waiting over a year for that care and still don't have an end in sight. No end to their pain, or their discomfort.

The sudden loss of tens and tens of thousands of staff, will not just affect the staff themselves - people who worked night and day in the face of fear, often without protection, to keep us safe and for whom we once clapped. Be in no doubt - It will affect all of us who need the service.

For almost two years, the National Health Service, became the National Covid Service. appointments cancelled again and again and again.

Now just as we should be starting to try to get back to normal - The focus on Covid stands to force a monumental act of self-harm on our care, one I worry that we will never recover from. Some of us will almost certainly lose our lives by the inability to access care.

There was at the weekend, a suggestion that it may be delayed - that maybe these workers could stay and see the NHS through the tough winter ahead. The government have today insisted there will be no delays. The policy will stand.

Well, I'm sorry - but this is just not acceptable.

Tonight, I stand behind all of the staff about to lose their jobs and all of us desperately waiting for healthcare. And in doing so launch our campaign calling to Outdate the Mandate. To scrap this policy once and for all. It is worth noting that neither Wales, Scotland or Norther Ireland. have this policy,

Sajid Javid - there is no shame in reassessing the evidence and moving forward on a different path. Omicron is milder, staff are mainly vaccinated and so are most of the vulnerable in our society.

And whilst I know many may disagree with me. The NHS must once again become the National Health Service and Not the National Covid Service.

The Time is now

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