The need to respond quickly to new manufacturing demands

A Key Challenge identified during the Covid-19 Pandemic has been the need to respond quickly to new manufacturing demands. This is highlighted by the UK‚’s lack of capacity in the manufacturing of low-cost / high-risk / high-value items. An example would be the current (2 January 2020) reported under-supply of vials at scale for theContinue reading “The need to respond quickly to new manufacturing demands”

Tradition is the Enemy of Reform

There can be no meaningful changes to deal with the challenges and opportunities presented by the Covid-19 pandemic until it is accepted that we have a system of government that is demonstrably not fit for purpose. Blaming politicians fails to recognize that they are trapped in the straitjacket of tradition – a euphemism for incompetence.Continue reading “Tradition is the Enemy of Reform”

How can we run drug trials much more quickly than we managed in 2020?

Phase three Covid-vaccine trials started on July 27 (Pfizer, Moderna) and August 31 (Astra Zeneca). The trials had enough data to seek authorisation on November 20 (Pfizer, Moderna) and November 27 (Astra Zeneca), meaning that trials took an average of 107 days. This was fast by previous standards. If these trials had taken a monthContinue reading “How can we run drug trials much more quickly than we managed in 2020?”

Property & Land Use

Covid-19 has increased homelessness brought about by job loss. High street commercial property going empty, caused by a move to on-line shopping, both of which have dramatically increased in 2020 through the knock on effect of the pandemic. 1. We need to find a way to increase the building of new houses without digging upContinue reading “Property & Land Use”

Introduce a non military National Service,concentrating on civic awareness.

The awareness of society under restrictions and how older people behaved as they would have behaved during the last war and into the 1950’s, and the younger people not aware of the messages from the government and the medical specialists. Historically, the younger generation has always bucked the trend but the dangers of today areContinue reading “Introduce a non military National Service,concentrating on civic awareness.”

Social Care the covid solution.

The biggest challenge that has been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic is that of social care. The early policy of trying to remove ‘bed blockers’ from our hospitals – spread the virus into care homes and exposed the most vulnerable to the the virus- leading to large numbers of deaths. This is not solely aContinue reading “Social Care the covid solution.”

energy saving in major cities around the world

At a time when covid has forced many people to work from home, it offers a significant opportunity to consider energy waste in major cities worldwide. I am now retired but when working I flew extensively around the world, returning mostly to London, and often late at night. I was struck by the huge amountContinue reading “energy saving in major cities around the world”

Isolation and loneliness

During the pandemic I have been involved in supporting the vulnerable. This has been a confusing time for many. In the first wave, people were told to shield and not leave their home. In the second wave they were called clinically extremely vulnerable and were told to stay at home if they were able to.Continue reading “Isolation and loneliness”

Pandemic Impacts on Child Sexual Abuse

Children have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic already, and the lockdown conditions have exacerbated conditions for cases of child sexual abuse. The true size of additional child sexual abuse cases in children are unknown and unmeasured. Furthermore, key predictors for the maltreatment of children are exacerbated – the economy is shrinking, increase in domesticContinue reading “Pandemic Impacts on Child Sexual Abuse”

OBESITY-THE CHALLENGE

The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated starkly the dangers of obesity in our society. An obese individual who develops Covid-19 has a less favourable prognosis than one with a body weight within the normal range. Obesity is a drain on our precious National Health Service resources as obese individuals can develop diabetes and other health relatedContinue reading “OBESITY-THE CHALLENGE”