MANCHESTER: Doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff in United Kingdom is expressing anger over government’s strategy to deal with ever growing COVID-19 pandemic, as hundreds of them have been asked to self-isolate in case they develop any mild symptoms but have not been provided facility to get tested unless they suffer aggressive infection.
“I’m frustrated as there are lots of NHS workers like myself who are at home self isolating not knowing if we have had the virus or not’’ a Manchester based doctor wrote in a social media group.
‘’We can’t get tested, we just ‘stay at home’,”, the doctor continued.
The doctor posted his comments Friday soon after media reported that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and is self isolating but will still lead the government’s response to the outbreak.
A Downing Street spokesman said Johnson, 55, experienced mild symptoms on Thursday — a day after he answered at the prime minister’s weekly question-and-answer session in the chamber of the House of Commons.
People around the UK took part in a “Clap for Carers” tribute, saluting NHS and care workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Royal Family and the prime minister joined well-wishers who flocked to their balconies and windows to applaud.
A message from the National Health Service (NHS) on social media described the tribute as “emotional”. However, the medics are critical of government’s response in dealing with the situation.
‘’Clapping isn’t going to help the NHS in this crisis. As lovely as the gesture was, reality hits after the euphoria settles’’ doctor wrote.
Hundreds of doctors, nurses, para medics and support staff have been asked by their department to self-isolate if they have any mild symptoms. Many of them are working from home without undergoing testing. This creating frustration among the NHS staff throughout the country.
‘’Meanwhile our colleagues are struggling to cope with the influx of unwell patients both in primary and secondary care. We feel useless as we can’t get ourselves tested and have to wait 7-14 days before we can return to work’’ he said.
‘’If we were in a position of power…we could get tested straight away’’ the doctor remarked.
On Thursday, the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK jumped by more than 100 in a day for the first time.
By Friday morning the death toll had risen from 475 to 578, health officials said, with 11,658 confirmed cases the country that claims to have one of the best healthcare system in the world.
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