Supermarkets have cast doubts on an assurance from the health secretary that food supplies would not be disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. On Thursday, Matt Hancock said: "We are working with the supermarkets to make sure that, if people are self-isolating, then we will be able to get the food and supplies that they need."
But supermarket sources said they had not discussed getting food to homes.One executive said he was "baffled" by the suggestions.
An executive told BBC business editor Simon Jack: "Matt Hancock has totally made up what he said about working with supermarkets. We haven't heard anything from government directly."
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care no less. Nothing he says, from now on, can only be believed with suspicion. He should be sacked and the post given to an honourable person, one that can be trusted with our health.
I always watch question time so heard MH make this assurance. He was very convincing, looking directly at the audience spouting what has turned out to be a bare faced lie.
We honestly deserve better than this & what better time to expect it!
They all tell pork pies, especially at election time, but now is not the time for this sort of theatrics and propaganda . To sit there, on national television, trying to con the public, who pay him, is nothing short of abhorrent. He has compromised his position, well and truly and he should go. How can he be trusted now?
Yes we do deserve better from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
If I’m honest 2greys it’s only what I expect. Even at times like this there’s a distinct lack of integrity & respect or levels these specimens won’t stoop too.
I think things are not being thought through in a joined up way. Yes there is most probably enough food available for everyone, if people stop hoarding, and if they do not mind a more limited diet. Green beans from Kenya, whatever comes from north Italy, avocados and other stuff with a long delivery chain, will be less available, but we have farmers who do spuds, veg, meat of all sorts, eggs, milk, cheese etc. However we need good delivery systems, to the supermarkets, and when needed, to peoples homes.
There was a good interview on BBC World Service from China a few weeks ago, with an older gentleman, who was a volunteer driver. He took patients to hospital, food where it was needed, and generally helped out, he said he sanitised his car regularly and was not afraid.
The thing that concerns me about a good delivery system and well staffed hospital units, is the closing of the schools, how many nurses/doctors/cleaners/delivery personnel etc are mums, what are they going to be able to do if they suddenly have their children to look after every day, Dads too for that matter.
I feel we need more sensible guidance about how and what we need to do, that will actually be helpful, a lot of areas already have volunteer drivers who take older people to Out Patient departments, Age UK knows of a lot of volunteer agencies country wide, are these sort of Agencies being contacted to find out how they can help, even if it is delivering a box of food to a self isolating persons front door? There are a lot of people who could be useful, if they were just asked, what could you do?
Sounds a bit harsh this 2greys , not at all like the reasonable chap know you to be. It's a pity that no one asked Matt Hancock what exactly he meant, but they didn't. The unnamed supermarket "executive" said that they had not heard anything from the government 'directly', a strange choice of words which begs the question "How about indirectly" which again wasn't asked. You might well be right in your assessment of the British Government but surely not on this evidence and certainly not at a time like this.
Question Time is on YouTube, judge for yourself. What the super markets have said in response is true, you cannot magic up loads of extra delivery vans, drivers, and the pickers from out of thin air.
He said the British Government had the supplies and would deliver. That to me sounds more like the requisition of warehouses maybe and bringing in the army, not struggling Tesco Sainsbury vans. I suppose you have to have lived through WW2 before you get to realise what a government can do when the chips are down. If that is the case the discussions with supermarkets will be going on at a much higher level than some unnamed executive is privy to. If David Dimbleby had still been there we might have got a bit more information.
Not going to happen Don the army would not be able to get the specialised refridgerated vans, they do not grow on trees. That is without all the rest of the infrastructure to operate it all. Just a pipe dream. Neither would the army be able to deal with all the commercial aspects. Even china was not on a war footing.
Matt Hancock said: "We are working with the supermarkets to make sure that, if people are self-isolating, then we will be able to get the food and supplies that they need." Something the supermarkets denied. An executive told BBC business editor Simon Jack:"Matt Hancock has totally made up what he said about working with supermarkets. We haven't heard anything from government directly."
"A separate call between officials at Eustice’s department, trade bodies and retailers looked at updating plans already in place in case of shortages expected around the UK’s exit from Europe. One executive said: “In essence this situation is very similar [to Brexit]. Oh the irony.” So there had been discussions on the matter of supplies. Trying to hammer the government into the ground over this is just as silly as telling me that refrigerated vans do not grow on trees, which found offensive.
It is all a shambles, a right mess. With conflicting advice going on, I do get the impression that the gov. don't know what they are doing, which is no surprise and think it would be the same no matter which party is in power. None of them have any experience of dealing with a pandemic situation, let alone be experts at it.
"telling me that refrigerated vans do not grow on trees, which found offensive." Not really my words Don, so I don't hope you don't mean that I, personally, have offended you. It is all out in the public domain.
Hi Don, I lived through WW2. On reflection the Government and civil service were incredibly apt considering the position we were
In during that period. i think the public at the time had a spirited attude and determinatin to win through. I just wonder if that same mindset exists today ! I often ask myself that If our recent Government, we’re in power in ‘39 would we all now be speaking German
considering some of the fiascos I recent times, ie Universal Credit,
just thoughts of an old fart I’m probably wrong again.
Us old farts are usually right, people just don't believe us. 🙄 I can tell you from experience that Governments do very little when the whatsit hits the fan. It's the civil servants who dig them out. The TV shows Yes Minister and Yes PM contained a lot of truths. But now we are getting into politics and I don't do politics any more. 😉
You are very correct, it is the civil servants that end up untangling the mess created by the politicians, no matter their persuasion. You are also right that "many a true word is said in jest".
I am fairly sure the goverment has hundreds of stocked barns of food though out the country, but they will not be used untill the very last of this virus is seen. I havent been outside my house since november, except for a hospial appointment, where picked up a chest invection on top of ipf, hospitals and doctors are the worst places to go. Try to keep away.
Also people can only have food delivered if they can afford the minimum charge each supermarket has.This will not be affordable for those on low incomes or benefits and those living alone with nobody else to bring them food and supplies.
I wonder if the government has really thought the details of this through.They are not going to reassure anyone with statements like that.especially when they are just not possible.When in doubt be quiet don't did a bigger hole for yourself !!
Last week I listened to an interview with Prof John Ashton from public health england in which he pointed out what the government were advised to do by medical experts at the beginning of the outbreak but chose to ignore for reasons known only to themselves.He predicted how the government would let this situation unravel by treating it as a political and financial one with advise being given to the public by ministers and not by medical professionals who knew the true logistics and feasability of the situation and would have made early vital decisions based on those facts.
Well now,as they say, if ifs and ands where pots and pans there'd be no need of tinkers
It leaves us to make our own decisions on the situation and support each other the best we can and to note that politicians are not necessarily elected for their honesty,clarity or expertise
If you are in the position of not being able to aford the cost of delivery, join up with a couple of nighbours, and split the cost of delivery also larger packs work out cheepest.
asda bring me beer i did not need anything putting in place by the torys they have done it for years what scares me is supermarkets cast doubts do they want to increase prices just thinking
You never know what's truth or fake coming out of politicians and media mouths.
I have learned that throughout history it is the written word that is believed. The truth has always lain somewhere far away from the written word. Maybe this is where my world weary synicism comes from. People will want to believe the government will care. Their favoured option to close down parliament for 5 months and blame it on them becoming super spreaders says otherwise to me.
We can’t possibly be surprised by now at ‘made up’ stories by representatives of the government. Matt Hancock’s add hock statement comes as no surprise at all. The other day Boris had said he had shook hands with a few patients with corona virus at a particular hospital and I thought d*******. A spokesperson from the hospital later revealed there were no patients within the hospital who had corona. As the other ‘blonde’ would say ‘fake news.’
I can understand that they maybe trying to quell any public panic with such stories, but they are so full of holes, even a child could see through them. All they are doing is sowing the seeds of disquiet. The best course that they should take, for them and us, is to stay with verified facts only and to tell the truth.
The telling or fabricating of untruths will get found out eventually, too much of it will result in anarchy as they lose control because nobody will believe them.
I would not believe a word this government says it seems they are struggling and totally out of their depth. I hope the cuts and underfunding of the NHS councils and social care by the Tories for the last 10 years does not come home to roost.
I find several of our politicians glibness when answering questions about the coronavirus and ways in which we might protect ourselves incredibly facile - they are just not particularly interested - the above BBC piece which I viewed demonstrates this and another who shall remain nameless but is well known by his three initials, displayed irritation at even being asked for advice about the situation.
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Time taken for Sputum test results
update: tomorrow I’m at the hospital for suspected head & neck cancer
Table tennis consultant and Gp 
Fanny and Johnny Cradock?
Isolation and the virus
