The number of deaths linked to Covid-19 concerns people. People want to blame the Government. Headline figures are not the entire story and coronavirus deaths figures include people who recovered but have died since of another health complaint. I also know that coronavirus featured on death certificates when no test was carried out and the individual concerned had not been diagnosed with Covid-19 prior to their passing as far as the next-of-kin were informed. It is also the case that figures include people who died with coronavirus rather than specifically from this dreadful disease.
None of this should distract from the fact that the UK’s health is not in great shape and I’m glad that the PM has recognised the need to extend and increase the work to address obesity. David Cameron’s Government started this work introducing the childhood obesity strategy that included the sugar-tax on drinks and improved school nutrition. Theresa May continued with a cut in sugar and calories in foodstuffs and an increase in attention given towards fruit and vegetables with ITV amongst others finding new ways to promote healthy eating with the ‘Eat them to defeat them’ VegPower campaign. Boris Johnson is right that not nearly enough has been done and plans to scrap ‘buy one, get one free’ promotions on unhealthy snacks, ban adverts before the watershed and continue to promote the get better and eat better public health campaign.
Our dentists are in short supply which is a piece of work I prioritise but it’s far better to care for our children’s oral health than revert to the dentist to fix it. Some feel these measures curtail freedom of choice. I fully support freedom of choice as long as we make sure choices are affordable and as parents we are properly informed!
The second part of the coronavirus death challenge relates to health inequalities and the Government’s levelling-up agenda relating to health and wealth could not have come at a better time!
Another statistic announced stated that 86% of people in England and Wales want UK farmers to grow as much produce as they can to provide national food security. This is a welcome figure and could be described as both a Brexit and, dare I say it, a coronavirus dividend. This figure has certainly not been as high previously.
Farmers are justified in saying that we need to back this by choosing British when we shop. Farmers can produce more and retailers will stock more if consumers, including my household, were more diligent with our choices. Food labelling will be improved after we leave the EU completely so the choice will be made even more straightforward.
My bulletin over the weekend met with some criticism when I stated that people did not want to rush back to normal (life as it was before lockdown). I stand by these comments if only because I know people have a greater appreciation of British-produced food and a renewed commitment to making and keeping time with loved-ones. Last week I spent time in St Ives, Mousehole, Newlyn, Helston, Porthleven, St Just, Penzance and obviously St Buryan and what I observed is people doing their level-best to manage a busy environment safely. I pay credit to everyone concerned!
