COVID-19 Negligence: UK Healthcare, Travel, and NHS Analysis

This report examines the potential negligence of various UK institutions, including the National Health Service (NHS), healthcare facilities, and travel companies, in their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis considers whether these entities took reasonable steps to prevent infections and deaths. The report discusses the NHS's early awareness campaigns, guidelines for general practices (GPs), and the postponement of non-urgent services. It also assesses the healthcare facilities' preparedness and the travel companies' adherence to government guidelines. The report concludes that, while the NHS took several preliminary steps, a lack of understanding of the virus and its transmission, coupled with potential shortcomings in healthcare and travel sectors, may have contributed to the severity of the pandemic. The report emphasizes the importance of protective measures and precautions rather than placing blame, given the evolving nature of the virus and its impacts.

Running head: CORONA VIRUS NEGLIGENCE
CORONA VIRUS NEGLIGENCE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
The world is battling with the most virulent and deadliest of virus infection, COVID-
19 originating from coronavirus, at the moment. At this moment there are 2 million
confirmed COVID-19 cases all around the world, which over 200 countries are tickling at
present, without the surety off coming out with an antidote or cure anytime soon1. The
infection seems to have been majorly affecting the older population and certain people who
are most at risk, like people going through cancer treatments, have had an organ transplant,
have a heart or lung condition, pregnant women, or people having a medical condition that
requires them to take certain medicines regularly thereby weakening their immunity system2.
In such a vulnerable and sensitive situation, it is necessary to look back whether the health
care facilities, travel companies and the NHS took every reasonable step to prevent COVID-
19 infections and deaths.
National Health Services
`The first and the four more step that any organisation or institution to take in this
circumstance is to spread awareness aggressively among the common people who could be
the potential carriers of the virus once infected. In early March the NHS England forwarded a
letter to General Practices (GP) for undertaking certain measures as primary care preparation
to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection in and around the United Kingdom3. The
guide shared by NHS talked about minimising footfalls at the medical centres and hospitals
for lowering the rate of spread of the infection, with the help of online services for matters
less significant. The GPs advised to setup different areas for patients with confirmed
1 'Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS' (nhs.uk, 2020) <https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-COVID-19/>
accessed 15 April 2020
2 'Coronavirus' (Who.int, 2020) <https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1> accessed 15 April
2020.
3 'COVID-19: Steps For GP Practices To Take' (The British Medical Association is the trade union and
professional body for doctors in the UK., 2020)
<https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/COVID-19/practical-guidance/COVID-19-steps-for-gp-practices-
to-take> accessed 15 April 2020

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infection, patient was showing the symptoms of COVID-19 yet due for confirmation and for
patients who were already admitted for other critical medical conditions4. The GPs were
advised by the NHS to take care of themselves and their staffs while treating the confirmed
cases. In addition the NHS give a list of non-urgent work that needs to be postponed right
away for preventing the infection from spreading at a rapid rate; the list included: travel
advice and vaccinations for travellers, health check-ups for old patients over the age of 75,
postponing minor surgeries, routine CQC inspections, et cetera. All non-essential paper
works and medical consultations were advised to be conducted over telephone or digital
consultation5.
Therefore, such advices and guidelines for the medical fraternity and to the
government has been useful and a great help from the NHS. It is beyond doubt that the
medical fraternity is putting their best in terms of testing and treating COVID-19 cases all
over the country. They have been doing their part of providing medical facilities to the
confirmed patients as well as people showing symptoms tirelessly since the outbreak of this
pandemic.
Healthcare Facilities
The healthcare facility teams all over the country has been working tirelessly to cure
the confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. However, it is speculated by the critics that the
healthcare facility is were lagging behind in spreading awareness initially in and around its
fraternity so that the medical staffs would not have been affected or died. The country has
been hit by a blow of extreme number of deaths, of not only old patients but also healthcare
staffs. This has been a result of unawareness as well as the lack of understanding of the
4 Ibid.
5 'COVID-19: Steps For GP Practices To Take' (The British Medical Association is the trade union and
professional body for doctors in the UK., 2020)
<https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/COVID-19/practical-guidance/COVID-19-steps-for-gp-practices-
to-take> accessed 15 April 2020

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severity of the COVID-19 viral infection6. Although it was unknown whether the scientists
and medical researchers would be able to come out with an antidote vaccine or oral
medication to prevent infection anytime soon, yes there was certain loopholes in the matter of
sanitisation and precautionary measures that led to the number of deaths of healthcare staffs,
who were mostly infected by the confirmed cases.
Travel Companies
Even though non-essential travelling was asked to be stopped by the government,
several travel companies did not pay attention to the guidelines and ended up being one of the
factors behind disseminating the carriers of the virus in and around the United Kingdom.
Small travel start-ups companies have been pointed out of arranging travel plans for
international passengers even when it was not recommended, a little before the national
lockdown7. The national lockdown was certainly the most important step that has been taken
to detach the country from international travellers who are the main carriers of the virulent
coronavirus8. There are data showing the record of a significant number of flights and trains
that were taken by passengers in the last week before the final announcement of the
lockdown was made, which nevertheless has been speculated as the necessary travels made
by the people staying at a different location away from their homes, for work or educational
purpose9.
The government decided to lockdown the entire country on 23 March, which was an
unprecedented step towards the attempt to restrict the spread of coronavirus. The government
had appeals before the residents of the country to stay home and help the NHS in preventing
6 'Coronavirus' (Who.int, 2020) <https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1> accessed 15 April
2020.
7 'Brits On Coronavirus Lockdown And Told Not To Fly Abroad For A Month' (Mirror, 2020)
<https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brits-coronavirus-lockdown-told-not-21710216> accessed 15 April
2020
8 Ibid.
9 'Coronavirus: Airlines Cancel Thousands Of Flights' (BBC News, 2020) <https://www.bbc.com/news/business-
51818492> accessed 15 April 2020.

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the growing trend of coronavirus. The NHS has done its preliminary part in spreading
awareness about this deadly virus and the severe medical conditions the patients are facing. It
has provided the maximum strength of medical and healthcare staffs it could arrange in and
around the country within a short notice. However, there has been a gap pertaining to the
understanding of the nature of the virus, its mode of transmission and a lack of understanding
about its severity among the citizens has become most destructive factor aiding the pandemic
to take such a deadly form10.
Conclusion
Therefore, it could be inferred that blaming anyone in particular is no solution at the
moment. It could be stated that there has been a lack of awareness pertaining to the ways in
which the virus could spread from one human being to another, mostly due to the unknown
biological structure and nature of the coronavirus. Hence, it could be suggested that it is wiser
to be protective and precautions at this moment rather than blaming entities for their
negligence in preventing the situation.
10 'Coronavirus' (Who.int, 2020) <https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1> accessed 15 April
2020.

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References
'Brits On Coronavirus Lockdown And Told Not To Fly Abroad For A Month' (Mirror, 2020)
<https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brits-coronavirus-lockdown-told-not-21710216>
accessed 15 April 2020
'Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS' (nhs.uk, 2020)
<https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-COVID-19/> accessed 15 April 2020
'Coronavirus' (Who.int, 2020) <https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1>
accessed 15 April 2020
'Coronavirus: Airlines Cancel Thousands Of Flights' (BBC News, 2020)
<https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51818492> accessed 15 April 2020
'COVID-19: Steps For GP Practices To Take' (The British Medical Association is the trade
union and professional body for doctors in the UK., 2020) <https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-
and-support/COVID-19/practical-guidance/COVID-19-steps-for-gp-practices-to-take>
accessed 15 April 2020