BMA doctors reveal their greatest fear
A major survey of doctors by the BMA shows that a second peak of Covid-19 in England this winter is the number-one concern among the medical profession.
Eighty-six per cent of more than 8,000 doctors and medical students who responded said that a second peak was likely or very likely in the next six months.
The findings come after daily cases in the UK soared to more than 3,500 on Friday, and as the R number rose to above one for the first time since March – meaning the epidemic is growing once again.
Doctors say the failure of the test and trace system, lack of monitoring and adherence to infection control measures in public places and confusing public health messages on physical distancing and face coverings are the main risks to causing a second peak.
When asked about the impact of measures to help prevent a second peak, doctors said that a fit-for-purpose test and trace system that is accessible and provides timely results, as well as a coherent, rapid and consistent approach to local outbreaks were the two most important.
Clearer information needed
They also highlighted the need for clearer public information and more visible messaging on rules and guidelines, including those on people mixing with others from outside their household.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chairman, said: ‘These results come from thousands of GPs and hospital doctors and expose the fears of front-line clinicians – fears that come from their everyday experiences of treating patients with Covid and watching, the first time round, as the virus spread with alarming speed while the Government delayed efforts to overcome it.
‘We, as a profession, want, above all, to avoid a return to the scenes we saw in April, when hospitals were full with Covid-19 patients, and hundreds were dying every day. Meanwhile, thousands of others missed out on vital appointments and procedures as routine care was put on hold.
‘But while the forecast in this survey may be bleak, it is not an inevitability if the Government takes decisive, robust and timely action to stamp down the spread of the infection.’
Dr Nagpaul said recent weeks and months had seen the failures of test and trace, and ongoing confusing messages to the public on what they can and cannot do, which had resulted in escalation of the virus spreading.
He called for the test and trace ‘debacle’ to be sorted once and for all.
‘It is unacceptable that people and contacts with the infection are not being identified due to failings in the system – which is resulting in the infection spreading blindly.
‘With daily cases still alarmingly high, and winter just around the corner, we are at a critical crossroads in the fight against this deadly virus. All efforts must be made to avoid a repeat of the horror and tragedy we all experienced earlier this year.’