Meeting of the Parliament 18 January 2023
I will shortly.
I am all for debate on our NHS, but the debate must be grounded in reality. Our entire health and social care system is still facing the continued impact of the pandemic, which is the biggest challenge that our NHS has faced in its 74-year existence. Indeed, the most recent statistics show that Covid is at its highest level since the summer. In the week ending 15 January, there were 1,100 patients in hospital with Covid-19. That represents a doubling of the number of patients since November.
The motion euphemistically refers to the global pandemic that has caused such loss and suffering around the world as a “short-term” problem. Covid is not and never will be a short-term problem. I say to members that they should try telling those who have lost a loved one to Covid this week or over the course of the past three years that Covid is a short-term problem, or telling those who are suffering from long Covid that the pandemic is a short-term problem. To describe Covid as a short-term problem is an insult to every person who has suffered or continues to suffer so badly as a result of this dreadful virus. If Labour had any decency, they would apologise for putting such an insensitive motion in front of Parliament today.