Letter: Stand up for what is right in our society

I wish to state that this Government has deliberately brought about paranoia and illogical thinking in respect of the coronavirus problem. The Conservative Party has a way of “taking the public in” with its public relations machine: even doctors and scientists it would seem on occasions!

The Government has recently reduced the death toll by 5,377 to a total of 41,329. Figures produced by the Office for National Statistics for the past seven weeks ending July 24 have stated that the deaths due to being coronavirus related were 2,992 and deaths that were from influenza turning to pneumonia were 6,626.

These figures (for me) put things into perspective regarding the paranoia that is being peddled by the Government.

The paranoia caused by the Government was responsible for the panic-buying in the early weeks. It has brought out the best (and the worst) in people with entrenched illogical thinking patterns leading to irrational behaviour in public places.

First of all, the Government said that masks were not necessary; now it has made them law to be worn in shops. This has now made people paranoid once again. Some of our low paid shop workers, in particular, have been subjected to bad behaviour displayed towards them by some members of the public.

This Government governs by a “divide and rule” policy and it has been a successful one. It has put groups of people (as well as individuals) against each other just as it used the same divide and rule attitude in 1984 towards the coal miners in their struggle. It has sent out mixed messages and made illogical decisions.

R Graham is correct about the situation in care homes. Many elderly people went into hospital with pre-existing health conditions, caught the virus, tested positive (or were not tested at all) and were sent out to the elderly people’s care homes to spread the virus to the vulnerable, hence over 20,000 deaths resulted in this way.

Then the Prime Minister had the audacity to blame the care home owners and the care staff! I hope that an enquiry will be held into these deaths and will not be “swept under the carpet” just as have many others…

Plans were made in Peterborough in the eventuality of additional mortuary provision being needed but not for places of quarantine to help to stop the spread of the virus! Many years ago the Memorial Hospital was used for that purpose.

NHS services have been curtailed due to 10 years of austerity measures imposed by the Government and the provision still further reduced because of the steps taken by the Government due to the virus.

It has been very difficult (or sometimes impossible) for the public to access the necessary medical advice from a General Practitioner. I suspect that this will lead to further privatisation of the NHS with a charge being made to see a GP. This will be more readily accepted by the public if they have been enduring difficulty. Just as it will be easier for the Government to get away with a ‘No Deal’ Brexit as 65 million of us continue to be paranoid about the virus and to continue to be put into groups against each other.

The Government accused Jeremy Corbyn of acting as if he had a magic money tree however, although it was necessary to take steps to support jobs and the economy, they have now managed to find a magic money forest after 10 years of austerity measures. As per usual it will be the banks and the establishment making the financial gains: including the companies that have benefitted from making personal protective equipment. We know who some of them are and who they have connections with.

In my opinion it is the low paid workers who have willingly provided a network of essential support in this country.

Now we see our services under risk at the Walk In Centre in Thorpe Road that is a very accessible building. The decision to move them to the City Hospital is ludicrous given the major parking problems there and, I feel, would not bring about the savings that I understand are necessary. I hope that the people of Peterborough will complete the survey that is a part of a public consultation. Let us hope that it does not follow the same route of most public consultations where decisions have often been made earlier behind closed doors.

We are on course for a million lost jobs already in this country. It will be the poor who will be paying for these problems with increased taxation, extra National Insurance and an increase in the cost of living whilst the rich continue to benefit from their off shore tax accounts as well as the other forms of tax avoidance.

I call on the people of Peterborough to not allow themselves to be divided and to stand up for what is right in our society.

Let us demand accurate figures from the Government instead of statistics, statistics and bloody statistics!

Between us let us make decisions to achieve a society that is not Me, me’, me but one that looks after the disabled, the sick, the elderly, the vulnerable and the disadvantaged in whatever form that disadvantage takes. That is the hallmark of a civilised and caring society and not one based on greed but, rather than that, is based on need. Together we stand, divided we fall.

Wendy Smith

New Road

Woodston