scholarly journals Why We Must Learn The Lessons Now: A call for a truly independent public inquiry by the UK Government

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Indranil Chakravorty ◽  
JS Bamrah ◽  
Kailash Chand ◽  
Ramesh Mehta

The BAPIO Think-tank recommends that the Independent Inquiry establishes; If the scientists did get the advice right (best practice at the time on protection, prevention of spread, detection of new cases, restriction of movement internal/external), and timely. Whether the government adhered to its own mantra of ‘following the science’ of acting on scientific evidence If the policy effectively assessed the risk to and protected key workers, how should this be conducted in the future? If the government had formed ‘a protective ring’ for Care Homes and if the early policy of encouraging NHS Trusts to discharge patients without repeat testing, compromised the care of other residents and care, home workers, If the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities and deprived communities was recognised in policy actions, so those at enhanced risk were appropriately prioritised if there was active engagement and co-designed provision of culturally appropriate timely information; if disinformation was tackled, and if there was an enhanced drive to vaccinate those at higher risk. If there was recognition by the government of public health expert advice that a blanket national policy is ineffective. More local intelligence, engagement, and leadership should tackle the outbreaks seen in different regions. If there was transparency and efficiency in the financial investment in tackling the pandemic - potential wastage and duplication from unusable PPE and the Nightingale hospitals), and the cost of private firms supplying testing, tracing and other equipment. Urgently, the health–social care priorities for recovery; whether segregation of facilities, protected allocation of resources in dealing with non-Covid conditions,  how the NHS might continue to function optimally in the event of a third or subsequent waves If there is action on pressures on the NHS workforce, the impact on their morale, wellbeing and actions that are required to manage these in the future.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e13598-e13598
Author(s):  
Helen Winter ◽  
Joanna Willis ◽  
Stephen Lang ◽  
Kay Drury ◽  
Jonathan Heywood ◽  
...  

e13598 Background: The impact on cancer outcomes from the Covid-19 pandemic has yet to be determined. Concerns persist on screening, delays in diagnosis, treatment interruptions and outcomes of infection in the immunosuppressed. The need for agile working has been exemplified by establishment of Nightingale Hospitals, staff redeployment and sudden integration of virtual consultations into clinical working. With most cancer clinical trials halted, recruitment into COVID-19 research became essential and embedded into the everyday. Here we present how rapid implementation of COVID-19 randomised clinical trials within an NHS organisation during the pandemic was achieved. Methods: A COVID-19 senior facilitation committee was set up to provide oversight, maximise staff capacity and resource and prioritise studies. Specific strategies to maximise access and clinical trials recruitment for patients including children and those with solid tumours were designed. These included presence of a research nurse at clinical ward rounds and team meetings, the promotion of protocol and informed consent training to all including doctors in the acute settings and weekly research meetings to share-best practice. Reflecting on learnings from this time provide an opportunity to consider how we adjust working for our patients in the future. Results: The integration of research into the everyday working of clinical teams looking after patients with COVID-19 has become the norm. The provision of protocol and informed consent training for all levels of staff and the consideration of all patients for trials during clinical ward rounds and multi-disciplinary meetings, have ensured access to trials has become embedded. The integration of research nurses working, upskilling and prompting clinical colleagues has ensured equity of access and provided a research presence and focus during the busy clinical day. The adoption of cross-disciplinary working, sharing best practice and a culture of commitment and support to the trials ensures no patient is denied the opportunity to participate. Three RTCs opened over 7 weeks. At one site 1904 patients were screened for one of the randomised-controlled trials and over 18% of these patients (351) were recruited and 175 patients declined. Conclusions: The pandemic has had a devastating impact across the UK. However, a coordinated and collaborative multi-disciplinary approach has supported high recruitment and equity of access for patients into COVID-19 trials. Learnings from this work may lead to embedding clinical trials and access to translational research for cancer patients in the future as we recover from the full impact of the pandemic. COVID-19 research has demonstrated how increased recruitment accelerates access and implementation of new innovations and novel drug combinations.The full impact of improved access to cancer research in the future during COVID recovery is worthy of more research.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa Marie Giebel ◽  
Kerry Hanna ◽  
Jacqueline Cannon ◽  
Paul Marlow ◽  
Hilary Tetlow ◽  
...  

Background: Vaccination uptake in the UK and increased care home testing are likely affecting care home visitation. With scant scientific evidence to date, the aim of this longitudinal qualitative study was to explore the impact of both (vaccination and testing) on the conduct and experiences of care home visits. Methods: Family carers of care home residents with dementia and care home staff from across the UK took part in baseline (October/November 2020) and follow-up interviews (March 2021). Public advisers were involved in all elements of the research. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Across 62 baseline and follow-up interviews with family carers (n=26; 11) and care home staff (n=16; 9), five core themes were developed: Delayed and inconsistent offers of face-to-face visits; Procedures and facilitation of visits; Frustration and anger among family carers; Variable uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine; Misinformation, education, and free choice. The variable uptake in staff, compared to family carers, was a key factor seemingly influencing visitation, with a lack of clear guidance leading care homes to implement infection control measures and visitation rights differently. Conclusions: We make five recommendations in this paper to enable improved care home visitation in the ongoing, and in future, pandemics. Visits need to be enabled and any changes to visiting rights must be used as a last resort, reviewed regularly in consultation with residents and carers and restored as soon as possible as a top priority, whilst more education needs to be provided surrounding vaccination for care home staff.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes G. Meinhard ◽  
Mary K. Foster ◽  
Ida Berger ◽  
Louise Moher

[First paragraph of Introduction]: In this paper, we investigate the evolving relationship between government and voluntary organizations in Ontario that is occurring in the wake of a prolonged period of funding cuts. The cuts are a manifestation of a major philosophical shift in government-third sector relations. We have already examined the impact of this shift on voluntary organizations in several papers (Foster and Meinhard, 2002; Meinhard and Foster, 2003a & b). We now turn our attention to the government sector and its vision for the future. Keywords: CVSS, Centre for Voluntary Sector Studies, Working Paper Series,TRSM, Ted Rogers School of Management Citation:


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Adam Maulana

<p class="Abstract"><em>The protected forest area has various functions for human living. The protected forest area is a strategic area which has a function to protect the biodiversity and macro climate, as well as water use balancer. The Act No. 12 of 2012 be the basic for Balikpapan City detailing the spatial planning (RTRW) to the detail spatial planning (RDTR) as the strategic areas of socio-cultural and the environment. The region includes three strategic areas, i.e. protected areas, education, and housing on the water. The concept of sustainable development that focuses on balancing environmental, social and economic become a macro approach to the preparation of a detailed plan for the third strategic area.Currently, the protected forest areas of Wain River and Manggar River currently indicate endangered in the future due to the growing activity over the land, as well as coal mining industry around protected areas. The article aims to determine the direction of development planned in the structuring of protected forest areas that could potentially reduce the impact of threats in the future. The results showed that the management of protected forest areas conducted through the concept of "developmental conservation". This concept was conducted through the collaboration role between the government as the regulator to the development of the natural attractions activity and the local communities as the main stakeholder of tourism development. This concept provides the protection conservation of protected forests at the same time generating economic value for local communities and government.</em><strong><em></em></strong></p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 212-222
Author(s):  
Lasha Zivzivadze ◽  
Tengiz Taktakishvili ◽  
Ekaterine Zviadadze ◽  
Giorgi Machavariani

Abstract Promoting investments in permanent crops is often considered by the government as a powerful measure to support long-term growth in agriculture. The same attitude is prevalent among agricultural policy makers in Georgia and hence, country’s government and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia initiate and coordinate projects facilitating new investments in permanent crops. The article deals with an evaluation of an impact of “Plant the Future” project in Georgia that provides funds for the potential beneficiaries for planting permanent crops. The structure and scope of the project are discussed in the article, and the relevant data regarding the area planted, financial impact, and beneficiaries for the period from 2015 to 2019 are analysed and the impact projection is made for the period of 2020–2043. Research showed that the target indicators of the project were fully achieved. In addition, there were a high demand from farmers to participate in this project and as a result, the budget spent in 2017–2019 exceeded the planned budget. The project appears to be beneficial in terms of net present values that are positive for all discussed discount rates, meaning that the benefits of the project are greater than costs. The return on investment of the project is around 10%, which is greater than the basic discount rate (8%). Social impact also seems to be high with 1,350 beneficiaries. According to the projection, from 2015 to 2024, around 3,000 beneficiaries will benefit from this project. In the methodology, five evaluation criteria are used, namely, relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. Based on the evaluation, specific recommendations are given.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juwon Adebiyi ◽  
Adebola Bada ◽  
Daniel Maduagwu ◽  
Emem Udoh

Abstract The regulation of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in Nigeria, which is currently seeing some progress in the formal sector, has been short of impressive in the informal sector of the economy. Con- sidering it is the role of every government to ensure that all sectors of the economy operate in a manner that guarantees and ensures the safety and well-being of its citizens, Article 4 of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 155- Occupational Safety and Health Convention was ratified by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) in 1994, which led to the development of a coherent National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health in 2006. This, inter alia, failed to address the informal sector; hence the Revised National Policy on OSH 2020 was introduced by the Govern- ment, through the office of the Honorable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, as a framework for bridging the existing gap. In a bid to ensure the success of the Policy document, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment was designated the Competent Authority by the Government. This paper takes a look at the stakeholders in the informal sector of the economy, focusing on the south- south part of Nigeria, and identifies some of the challenges hampering the effective implementation of Occupational Safety and Health systems needed for the promotion of safety and health at workplaces. It concludes by providing a practical tool that can be a guide for the policy users, especially in the in- formal sector of the Nigerian economy, in alignment with the second of the three determinants of the future of energy, as captured in the theme for NAICE 2021: "The Future of energy – a trilogy of de- terminants; Climate Change, Public Health, and the Global Oil Market".


2021 ◽  
pp. 689-716
Author(s):  
Alisdair A. Gillespie ◽  
Siobhan Weare

This chapter considers the impact that COVID-19 has had on the English Legal System. The chapter is broken down into sections that mirror the parts of this book. The chapter begins by noting that the manner in which laws are passed differed because of coronavirus. The government were given wide-ranging powers to introduce new laws that restricted liberty. In many instances, these were not subject to Parliamentary debate or judicial analysis. The chapter also considers how the courts had to adjust to new ways of working. While traditionally, the courts rely on live proceedings, with everyone gathered in court, this was not possible throughout the pandemic. Remote hearings became the new normal until so-called ‘Nightingale Courts’ were introduced to allow for socially-distant trials to resume. However, this has led to significant delays in both the civil and criminal justice systems that will have a lasting impact. The chapter considers not only what has happened during the coronavirus pandemic, but also what lessons have been learnt that can carry through to the future.


Author(s):  
Nicki Moone

Working with relatives and carers on inpatient wards demands careful consideration and reflection on how best to adapt practice to meet their needs, working in partnership as stipulated by national policy and practice guidelines. Making all staff ‘carer aware’ means having a systematic approach to building on carers’ strengths and addressing their needs. The role of mental health practitioners in an acute inpatient ward requires a specific set of skills and values when working alongside carers and consideration of the impact that the caring role has had. Attention to best practice, guidance, and protocols go some way to addressing the need to be carer inclusive.


2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
P.G.J. Meiring

The impact of Calvinist theology and of reformed leadership on the South African Council of Churches (SACC) is vast. After a brief history of the SACC, the author notes the contribution that a number of reformed and presbyterian clergy and theologians have made – as presidents, general secretaries or as theo- logians who helped develop the SACC’s message. At least five principles that Calvin held dear, are reflected in the SACC’s agenda during the past decades: the quest for unity, the con- cern for mission, covenanting for justice, providing a prophetic witness in the community, and when the need arose, the willingness to confront the government of the day. The article concludes with a brief look at the future of the SACC and of the continued input that reformed theologians may be able to make.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 389
Author(s):  
Fadhila Inas Pratiwi ◽  
Lilik Salamah

Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) in Italy was remarkably immense, with more than two hundred thousand infected cases, and more than thirty thousand people had died because of the virus as of 27th July 2020. The high number of mortality rate makes the Italy case is essential to be further explored. This article aims to elaborate on government response and strategy in handling COVID-19 that spread within the country. This article unfolds in four sections; the first part discusses how COVID-19 could spread massively in Italy and cause death for a thousand people. The second part explains the government measure and its effectivity in containing the virus. The third part elaborates on the impact of COVID-19 along with the government response in the socio-economic aspect. The last part explores the future of Italy after COVID-19. The article employs a literature review that analyzes information from various sources such as academic journals, research reports from the think tank, and news media outlets. Keywords: Coronavirus, Italy, Government, Response Kasus coronavirus di Italia sangat tinggi dan massif dengan lebih dari dua ratus ribu orang terinfeksi dan lebih dari lima puluh ribu orang meninggal pertanggal 27 Juli 2020. Tingginya jumlah orang yang terinfeksi dan jumlah orang yang meninggal membuat Italia menjadi kasus yang menarik untuk dibahas. Tujuan dari artikel ini untuk mengelaborasi tentang bagaimana respon dan strategi pemerintah Italia dalam menangani virus yang sudah menyebar di Italia. Artikel ini terdiri dari empat bahasan, pertama membahas tentang awal mula COVID-19 bisa menyebar secara masif di Italia dan mengakibatkan puluhan ribu orang meninggal. Kedua, membahas tentang bagaimana respon dari pemerintah Italia dan juga efektifitasnya dalam menangani penyebaran virus ini. Ketiga, membahas tentang dampak yang diakibatkan dari COVID-19 beserta respon pemerintah terhadap aspek sosio-ekonomi di Italia. Keempat, mendiskusikan bagaimana masa depan Italia setelah COVID-19. Artikel ini menggunakan tinjauan pustaka untuk melakukan analisis terkait dengan topik artikel yang berasal dari banyak sumber seperti jurnal akademis, laporan peneltian, artikel berita dan lain sebagainya.  Kata-kata Kunci: Coronavirus, Italia, Pemerintah, Respons 


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