As a retired, senior NHS worker who planned for swine flu, I’m appalled that MPs have disappeared at a time like this

I retired from the NHS nearly five years ago, and for the last 10 years of my career, I spent a considerable amount of time developing business continuity plans to keep our services running in the event of the staff shortages anticipated during the swine flu pandemic of 2009-10.

That was the trigger, and over the years all the services continued to modify and test those plans.

I am sure that effort has been repaid over these last few weeks. So it is astonishing to see that faced with the actual event parliament simply disappears at a time when the country needs its MPs most to scrutinise the government to make sure it makes the best decisions.

If we don’t need a sitting parliament now, when do we need it? Perhaps this might be the event to drag the Palace of Westminster into the 21st century.

Roger Hancocks
Ex-NHS senior pharmacist

Who wasn’t appalled and shocked by the headlines about elderly people being left to die in care homes in Spain?

Are we aware of the desperate plight of our own? Without personal protective equipment, our carers face a terrible decision that might leave some elderly at risk of being abandoned. We need to act fast.

Are there companies out there who could channel their production into manufacturing masks, gowns, goggles and visors?

T Carron
Chichester

Does Scotland have more capacity to test those showing symptoms of coronavirus than England?

Near neighbours in southeast London took ill last Saturday. They contacted 111 and were told to self-isolate. As they need help we tend to drop things at their door as and when needed.

But when the husband of a couple we know from the south went to the Highlands on Sunday and fell ill that evening, both were tested the very next day. The husband was found to have coronavirus but the wife, fortunately, did not. Luckily, they have a very large garden in which they can walk separately and attendants to meet their needs.

Valerie Crews
Beckenham

John T Bennett’s editor’s letter (Trying to hold American politicians to account has become 10 times harder in the time of coronavirus) made me think about Dr Anthony Fauci, a well-respected physician who seems to speak the truth to the nation in the face of Donald Trump’s mine of misinformation. Apparently even Trump has praised Fauci, referring to him as “a major television star”.

Surely he will be fired soon?

Deborah Everett
Manchester

For very good reasons, much is currently being said about the number of building sites which remain open, with all the commensurate risks to the site workers and the wider community. However, I can’t help but notice the large number of retailers who send me daily emails in an effort to sell me their wares. This includes the online auction sites of eBay and Gumtree.

Why is no one policing the so-called “lockdown”, which is a vital tool in the fight to increase public safety? Just what essential service is being provided by the businesses that require their office, warehouse and distribution workers to continue to come to work? Is it really essential that I am able to buy a pressure washer through eBay, or sports clothing or accessories from Wiggle, or a set of camp cooking equipment from Planet-X?

Is the pleasure of having some widget delivered to our door greater than the need for societal safety?

​David Curran​
Feltham

While Patrick Cosgrove has been digging up part of his lawn (Letters, 24 March), I have been assembling my large pots to see how much more I can grow that way.

Readers might like to know that apart from the obvious tomatoes and peppers, many more vegetables can be grown in pots: courgettes, potatoes and runner beans are my essentials, but there are many more.

Of course, you then have to find yourself some compost. Also, not widely known perhaps, is the possibility of growing micro-greens such as pea and broccoli sprouts (and many more). Some require compost and a seed tray, but some, like the ubiquitous mustard and cress can be grown on tissue. Fresh greens quickly! Let’s hope the garden centres are able to open again fairly soon. Mail order, of course, is a possibility.

Viv Robson
Petersfield