Coronavirus

[Witton Park]

I know i'm in for a lynching here, as anything in a negative light with regards to NHS/nurses wages is a bit of a hot subject...

But... I think nurses are aqeduately rewarded (financially) for the job they do. My opinion is that trainee/student nurses need no qualifications over and above, say a trainee engineer (arguably less in fact), and at that stage their salaries are low, as they are in all industries.

At the other end of the scale, I have a close relative who is a specialist nurse and she is well rewarded financially (and rightly so) for her fantastic ability, conduct and qualifications.

Working conditions, work-life balance, etc... now that's a different matter, and i'm no expert on it. We have an ongoing issue in our family which closely relates to the NHS, and safe to say this paints them in a very negative light regards to treatment of their employees...

NHS PHD 3 year course, Just over £30k a year for 3 days mentored work in a hospital, clinical situation, 1 day study at Uni and 1 day home study.

My wife grafts in a curtain factory for John Lewis for half that. I've run factories and been in hundreds of factories around the world. I can tell you my wife is highly skilled and efficient.

I think there's plenty of money in the NHS and it's about time we got to grips with the cult built up around it.

It won't make me popular either Travs

[Mike T]

The money is being borrowed, it is not some reserve that is being drawn on. The OBR estimates that the deficit for the 2020/21 financial year will be £270 billion or 14% of GDP. Government's take such steps in times of grave national crisis like war or in this case, a pandemic.

How is this is going to be paid back? The private sector is being decimated, so will not be able to stump up the cash. So if Government income is reduced, then expenditure will have to do likewise. The austerity we have faced in the last ten years will seem like a walk in the park compared to what will have to come.

No need to borrow, just print it - this is how we buy houses - the money is created by the bank/building society - it does not come from the savings of the bank's customers - as long as inflation does not "ramp up' - I hate that expression - it is not an issue.

[Witton Park]

No need to borrow, just print it - this is how we buy houses - the money is created by the bank/building society - it does not come from the savings of the bank's customers - as long as inflation does not "ramp up' - I hate that expression - it is not an issue.

Funny, I thought that Oracle and Graham Breeze's savings in the Halifax on which they gain 0.25% interest gross per annum were what the Halifax lent out to me at 3.25% for my mortgage and the Halifax trousered the 3% as their margin.

If they "just print it" what do they do with the deposits of Oracle and Graham?

[JohnK]

Indeed Travs.
What we need are some brave moves now that the initial suppression has been achieved ( and I mean suppression of society). There should be enough data to allow a controlled and considered release from lockdown for lower risk groups. By that I mean healthy people under 45. Yes, a few deaths have occurred in that age range but probably no more than sporadic deaths from flu or other infectious diseases that we never normally hear about. A more gradual release for older age groups in tranches just to control the flow of new hospitalisations. But lets get the economy going again.
And lets STOP sending covid-19 cases to the hospitals...only use the Nightingales. We need hospitals to be covid free otherwise the death toll from untreated other diseases will be way higher that the covid death toll. There is also a growing understanding that hospitalisation does not really work anyway since there is no treatment. Those that need ventilating are probably not going to make it in any case...I have seen death rates ranging from 50% to 90% for those that go onto ventilation. Supported treatment at home may be a better way.

What provisions will you make for child care? as you still have the grandparents under house arrest, and it is they who do a vast amount of caring for the children whilst the parents work,

That is just one flaw in your plan there are many others.

[Mike T]

Funny, I thought that Oracle and Graham Breeze's savings in the Halifax on which they gain 0.25% interest gross per annum were what the Halifax lent out to me at 3.25% for my mortgage and the Halifax trousered the 3% as their margin.

If they "just print it" what do they do with the deposits of Oracle and Graham?

Any economics text book will tell you that what I have said is true. They have to keep some money back in case there is a run, the rest I assume is invested in stocks/shares. A lot of the money that keeps the economy going is simply printed - it is not backed by gold reserves like it used to be. WRT houses and mortgages they do of course have the "value" of the house to fall back on, assuming it has not been artificially inflated.

[JohnK]

Any economics text book will tell you that what I have said is true. They have to keep some money back in case there is a run, the rest I assume is invested in stocks/shares. A lot of the money that keeps the economy going is simply printed - it is not backed by gold reserves like it used to be. WRT houses and mortgages they do of course have the "value" of the house to fall back on, assuming it has not been artificially inflated.

Should be a few quid in reserve as Britain paid off the last instalment of the WWII debt on December the 31st 2006

[Wheeze]

John. The schools have not shut. My grandchildren have been there right through the easter holidays....much to their chagrin! So of course, if you send parents back to full live that means schools operate properly .

But no plan is perfect. It's about minimising damage.

[Muddy Retriever]

No need to borrow, just print it - this is how we buy houses - the money is created by the bank/building society - it does not come from the savings of the bank's customers - as long as inflation does not "ramp up' - I hate that expression - it is not an issue.

So banks and building societies just print the money to loan out do they? One wonders then why there was a Financial crisis at all in 2007/2008. All Northern Rock etc. had to do was turn on the printing presses. Job done.

Similarly with the Government. No need for taxes at all, we can just print the money and spend whatever we like. Well that might work in the fantasy world of the Guardian. Meanwhile on planet earth, that will just produce hyperinflation.

[JohnK]

John. The schools have not shut. My grandchildren have been there right through the easter holidays....much to their chagrin! So of course, if you send parents back to full live that means schools operate properly .

But no plan is perfect. It's about minimising damage.

Lucky you my Daughter has had to juggle two lads and working during the current local school shutdown TBH I consider given my lifestyle LYMES disease is as big a threat as COVID-19 to me and I resent the fact that there are bodies of people trying to tell me how to look after myself after all I accept that the one certainty in life is that I will end up dead and therefore I try to get the most out of life and don`t need telling how to conduct myself and I get the feeling there are many more like me that are happy to take responsibity for themselves and look out for others in the process i.e use common sense and compassion.

How can anybody other than armchair experts know how to minimise damage when dealing with the unknown? only history will reveal the answers.

In the meantime I will maintain my faith and keep washing my hands

[Llani Boy]

I notice the BBC are taking every opportunity to make mischief over the shortage of PPE and at the same time wasting that same precious equipment by getting reporters/journalist kitted out in it and wandering around in hospitals, no doubt getting in the way.

Are these essential journeys, driving to and hanging around other peoples places of work?

Arseholes, the lot of them.