United Kingdom
I'm a research fellow at IPPR, interested in progressive politics, better government and radical welfare. I specialise in health (the cradle and grave bit of 'from cradle to grave') - and have a particular interest in public health. Here's some of my commentary - but you can find more of my work, including full reports, here: https://www.ippr.org/about/people/staff/chris-thomas. Email on [email protected].
The government recently announced ambitions to carry out an independent enquiry into the UK's torrid experience of Covid-19. It couldn't be more needed. Our outcomes have been amongst the worst in the world. Most recently, the ONS confirmed that England had the highest level of excess deaths of any country in Europe in the first half of 2020.
"I'll cut the deficit, not the NHS" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-9648606-/topic/NHS" data-vars-event-id="c6">NHS ". David Cameron's 2010 election slogan seemed to offer the country the best of both worlds - fiscal responsibility and a strong health service. Alas, it was too good to be true. Instead, the NHS faced the most brutal decade since its formation.
It would be comforting to think of Covid-19 as a once in a lifetime event. We'd curse our bad luck, but broadly look to go back to normal. Unfortunately, this is a fantasy. Covid-19 is not a one off.
"This is a once in a lifetime crisis." This quote neatly sums up the miserable state of the UK economy. Just a week and a half ago, it was confirmed that our GDP had plummeted by 20.4 per cent in April.
IPPR calls for investment in public health services to tackle health inequality and deliver NHS savings after finding cuts fall on poorest While it is widely known that public health services across the country have faced cuts, new IPPR research today reveals that it is the most deprived communities in England have faced the most substantial cuts.
Public health funding has been cut by £1 billion since 2014. We have never experienced a peacetime crisis like coronavirus. The risk it carries, particularly to the most vulnerable, means an unprecedented change to how we work, live and use public services. Global data is quickly allowing us to identify the most vulnerable.
Around 9.15 on the 21 st October 1966, a colliery spoil tip collapsed above the Welsh village of Aberfan. It triggered an avalanche of slurry, which careered downhill and made contract with Pantglas Junior school, where lessons had just begun.
Covid-19 has caused unprecedented strain on our health and care system. Our entire strategy has been designed to keep demand below the system's finite resources - by "flattening the curve." The consequence of failure would be catastrophic for the health service and the nation. Undeniably, not everything has gone right.