To claim the NHS hasn’t been overwhelmed by coronavirus is missing the bigger picture

It is very misleading of the government to keep claiming that the NHS has not been overwhelmed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The amazing response to coronavirus has only been achieved at the expense of other NHS services. The British Heart Foundation estimates that there have been at least 28,000 delayed inpatient heart procedures in England since lockdown began. New analysis published by Cancer Research UK has outlined as many as 2.4 million people in the UK have been affected by a backlog in cancer care, waiting for cancer screening, further tests or treatment.

In addition, of course, there is the long waiting list for elective surgery procedures, such as hip replacements and cataract extractions. There is a risk that the NHS will be overwhelmed when this outstanding demand is tackled.

Anthony Slack
Rochdale

Lizzie Dearden’s report on the mounting of scaffolding to protect Churchill’s statue in anticipation of a weekend of protests and counter protests in London sadly chronicles missed opportunities and increased division in our society.

Early widespread discussions about equitable life chances, police brutality and historical legacy ignited by George Floyd’s death have been quickly superseded by polarised, racially charged confrontations. We share these lands today because of what happened yesterday and tomorrow will be as ugly or beautiful as we make it.

We should spend time discussing our understanding of our common humanity and what the societal consequences are when we grow in fear and eventually in hate. Perhaps more important than statues, one challenge is to equip future generations with a more complete contextual understanding of our history. For example, by teaching about Churchill’s inspiring words during the Second World War and also covering his writings during the colonial period before the First World War.

Andrew Isaac Meso
Bushey, Hertfordshire

I cannot say I was heartbroken to read Tom Peck’s article about Nigel Farage having had his LBC radio wings torn off. He is a divisive character who, as the writer states, threatens to leave the world stage, then morphs into yet another persona.

Even his comments about the Taliban and the Black Lives Matter campaign was an incendiary device to whip up yet more trouble in this country. But don’t think this right-wing pimpernel will disappear from our screens and media forever, because just as you think you can relax, Farage will disgrace our national conversation once again and issue yet more outrageous and provocative statements, to alarm or reinforce whatever side people find themselves on.

Judith A Daniels
Norfolk

Reading all the spin around the new test and trace app, if there is less than 60 per cent uptake, the entire project will be worthless for the individual. At the same time there is the concern that the data harvested will fall into the hands of the very people who would misuse it.

The development has been made by elements of the Vote Leave campaign who manipulated data to achieve success with that vote. The question is fundamentally whether we trust the current government and its trusted suppliers to act in an open and data-protected way.

Personally, the answer, after understanding the underhand and cavalier methods of Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson in both Brexit and coronavirus strategies, is a resounding no.

I’ve also read that Matt Hancock hands our NHS patient data to Amazon free of charge, which further fuels my distrust of government motivation.

Robert Massam
Norfolk

Is this government seriously considering imprisonment for us healthy over-70s if we defy their self-isolating rules?

We’re mostly a law-abiding lot, and perfectly willing to take necessary steps to minimise risks to other people. But many of us would draw the line at being obliged to stay under house arrest (I was going to say “in obedience to power-crazed pipsqueaks” here, but perhaps not!) when the risk was only to ourselves. I can’t imagine that I’m alone in my view that if the law is an ass, then breaking it is a duty.

If we’re sent to prison, that would increase the risk to both ourselves and others. Is that what they want?

Susan Alexander
South Gloucestershire

It’s OK for airlines and so on to demand everyone wears a face mask, but if frontline workers are unable to source these items, where do they expect Joe Public to get them?

Jay Dee
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