Let’s Go for a Cruise

It istime to think about a cruise. Or, how about a visit to a stately home or anempty school?

All ofthese are places where beds could be placed for the victims of Coronavirus. Andplaces to put are the first things needed for the anticipated thousands,possibly tens of thousands, of patients with which the already overstretchedNHS hospitals will be unable to cope.

There areother accommodation possibilities. Top of the list– private hospitals. Theyalready have administrative and nursing staffs. Most of the doctors work in thepublic and private sector. There are 28 private hospitals in London alone. Inthe UK as a whole, there are an estimated 30,000 private beds.

Schoolsare shutting and will remain shut until September. There are 32,770 schools inthe UK. Empty classrooms, halls and corridors can be filled if necessary. Alsoavailable are leisure centres with their vast sports halls and universities.All of these will be empty and could be pressed into service and low-paid staffwho would otherwise be at home worrying about how to find money for food andrent could be very usefully employed.

Statelyhomes are a traditional source of instant hospitals. There are 1,650 statelyhomes in the UK. Many of them saw hospital service during World War I and WorldWar II. People will not be visiting these homes during the pandemic. They willbe empty and waiting to contribute as they have in the past.

Back tothe cruise ships. President Trump has offered New York City a militaryhospital ship to help that city cope with the coronavirus crisis. There are anestimated 550,000 passenger berths on ships involved in the world cruisingindustry. These ships and their crews are now idling in ports. They and theircrews can be pressed into service, not just in developed counties, but indeveloping countries practically devoid of proper medical facilities.

It isvital that facilities are available to the developing world. Covid-19 is apandemic which means it is a global problem which can only be solved byinternational cooperation. Checking the spread in just the relatively wealthyUK, Europe and America would be short-sighted. The virus could easily take holdin the developing world in such a way that those countries become a launch padfor a renewed attack on the developed world.

Identifyingand preparing the physical infrastructure is only part of the solution. Alsoneeded is the medical equipment and staff to run it. Respirators are thebiggest problem. The British government is pressing the manufacturing sector toretool to produce more respirators. As for staff, retired nurses and doctorsare being urged to return to work. The government may also want to considerpressing into service those who have recovered from the virus and are nowimmune. There also about 7 million 16 to 22-year-olds with several vitalqualities: they are less vulnerable to the disease; they are out of school anduniversity and bored stiff; and they are generally keen to help. If necessary,introduce a conscripted Health Army to help maintain essential services and dothe basic hospital work that could help free up trained medical staff.

All ofthe above may appear to some as spreading alarm and despondency. Well, themedical experts are unanimous that things are going to be worse. Yesterday (18March) 417 people died in one day in Italy. As the scout motto goes: BePrepared.

Tom Arms is a regular contributor