Covid-19 and Politics - Page 10

Darat · 25th March 2020, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Planigale

And some people mocked me!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043767

It’s a potential order based on them getting a prototype design approved, then they have to start the manufacturing, it is going to take more than 2 weeks. But note this is not what some people were calling for I.e the idea that a someone like a car manufacturer could almost immediately switch their production lines to making ventilators. In fact this is what was suggested by some people in this thread. Assuming they can produce an adequate model I wonder whether Dylan will be sharing their design with other engineering companies....

a_unique_person · 25th March 2020, 10:22 PM

I suppose they will include the Dyson markup and be made entirely of plastic with some gaudy plastic structural features that serve no purpose at all.

Aber · 26th March 2020, 01:09 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

It’s a potential order based on them getting a prototype design approved,

Approval expected tomorrow

https://www.ft.com/content/4cc667f2-...f-41bea055720b

Darat · 26th March 2020, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by Aber

Approval expected tomorrow

https://www.ft.com/content/4cc667f2-...f-41bea055720b

Subscription required, all the other articles I've read are just saying soon not tomorrow? Fingers crossed its not as bad as his washers!

The Don · 26th March 2020, 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by Darat

Subscription required, all the other articles I've read are just saying soon not tomorrow? Fingers crossed its not as bad as his washers!

I searched for the headline and was able to access the article. Here is the paragraph regarding regulatory approval:

Quote:

The appliances maker told staff it had received a UK government order for 10,000 of the devices and aims to begin delivering them “in weeks”, contingent on regulatory approval it expects to obtain on Friday.*

The expectation is from Dyson, which may or may not be realistic.

Planigale · 26th March 2020, 02:00 AM

Originally Posted by a_unique_person

I suppose they will include the Dyson markup and be made entirely of plastic with some gaudy plastic structural features that serve no purpose at all.

So this is what it looks like
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043767
Not too gaudy.

From what I can make out from the picture it looks like a pressure cycled ventilator. Whether it is patient triggered or delivers mandatory ventilation is unclear. Not hugely sophisticated but if you have relatively inexperienced staff that is not a bad thing.

ETA
Government specification
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-specification

Pixel42 · 26th March 2020, 02:09 AM

Sounds like they're going to be made in the aircraft hangars at the Hullavington site Dyson recently bought, which is a couple of miles from me.

Ivor the Engineer · 26th March 2020, 02:40 AM

How appropriate is it that the trade nickname for Dyson products is Die-soon!

Ivor the Engineer · 26th March 2020, 02:57 AM

Having worked on developing medical products in the past the biggest delay will not be the engineering per se, but the huge amounts of verification and documentation that needs to be completed and signed-off before a product is allowed anywhere near a patient outside a controlled trial setting. This can take months, particularly if the product has software controlling vital functions.

The only way round this is if a company is simply making direct copies of an existing design that has already passed all the necessary regulatory approvals.

The Don · 26th March 2020, 03:20 AM

Originally Posted by Ivor the Engineer

Having worked on developing medical products in the past the biggest delay will not be the engineering per se, but the huge amounts of verification and documentation that needs to be completed and signed-off before a product is allowed anywhere near a patient outside a controlled trial setting. This can take months, particularly if the product has software controlling vital functions.

The only way round this is if a company is simply making direct copies of an existing design that has already passed all the necessary regulatory approvals.

Perhaps the government is willing to shortcut, or even eliminate, that process in the face of the Coronavirus crisis and because Dyson are ~~major donors~~ renowned for the excellence and reliability of their products.

Having seen the number of Dyson vacuum cleaners my various friends have been through over the years (as opposed to the Panasonic upright one Mrs Don and I bought in 1993 and which is still doing sterling service), I'd have no qualms about bypassing approvals.

Andy_Ross · 26th March 2020, 03:32 AM

“The government should have given funding to existing ventilator manufacturers, and existing companies like us.”

Quote:

Andrew Raynor of MEC Medical, a medical parts manufacturer, says “nothing” happened when he contacted the govt offering to make #Covid19 ventilators

Onn BBC 'Newsnight'

So the govt still acting like spivs, giving contracts to their donors who have never made any medical equipment and have no manufacturing in the UK rather than to existing manufacturers of ventilatorsl.

Andy_Ross · 26th March 2020, 03:40 AM

UK govt says they can't release full figures for deaths without permission from families because of 'data protection rules'

So UK figures are lower than they should be.

Squeegee Beckenheim · 26th March 2020, 03:42 AM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

UK govt says they can't release full figures for deaths without permission from families because of 'data protection rules'

That sounds like absolute nonsense. I can imagine that maybe they can't release names, but statistics? Why doesn't that apply to all deaths?

I can believe they're artificially reducing the numbers, though.

GlennB · 26th March 2020, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

UK govt says they can't release full figures for deaths without permission from families because of 'data protection rules'

That sounds like total bollocks. Can the publication of anonymous numbers be restricted by 'data protection rules'?

Andy_Ross · 26th March 2020, 03:59 AM

It was on BBC Newsnight, Department of Health says it's data protection laws stopping hospitals releasing the cause of death, they are only allowed to release total number of deaths at the hospital.

Complete bollocks of course but it does make it look like the death rate has dropped.

The Don · 26th March 2020, 04:00 AM

Originally Posted by GlennB

That sounds like total bollocks. Can the publication of anonymous numbers be restricted by 'data protection rules'?

It depends on whether there's a breakdown by age, gender or location.

If the figures could be used to show that an 80-85 year old woman died in Midsommer, and the population is small enough to identify the individual, then that could be a problem.

Ivor the Engineer · 26th March 2020, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by The Don

It depends on whether there's a breakdown by age, gender or location.

If the figures could be used to show that an 80-85 year old woman died in Midsommer, and the population is small enough to identify the individual, then that could be a problem.

Covid-19 is the least of your worries in Midsommer.

The Don · 26th March 2020, 04:03 AM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

“The government should have given funding to existing ventilator manufacturers, and existing companies like us.”

Quote:

Quote:
Andrew Raynor of MEC Medical, a medical parts manufacturer, says “nothing” happened when he contacted the govt offering to make #Covid19 ventilators

On BBC 'Newsnight'

So the govt still acting like spivs, giving contracts to their donors who have never made any medical equipment and have no manufacturing in the UK rather than to existing manufacturers of ventilators.

It's much better to be seen to be taking extraordinary measures than simply doing a little bit more.

"Government moving mountains to allow Dyson to make ventilators" makes the government seem much more dynamic than "MEC Medical to scale up production"

Ivor the Engineer · 26th March 2020, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by The Don

It's much better to be seen to be taking extraordinary measures than simply doing a little bit more.

"Government moving mountains to allow Dyson to make ventilators" makes the government seem much more dynamic than "MEC Medical to scale up production"

Like the drive for people to donate metal objects in WWII. Aluminium pans to spitfires! Iron gates to tanks! Broken Dyson vacuum cleaners to ventilators!

P.J. Denyer · 26th March 2020, 08:43 AM

I heard on the radio that the government has distanced itself from Dyson over this, possibly because some (less politically active) manufactures of medical equipment have come forward to say that they have offered to increase production and had no response. A Downing St spokesman has stated that no orders will be placed until proof of concept models have been evaluated from a number of companies. The media of course is full of stories of how Dyson is supplying 10,000 ventilators, someone in marketing has earned themselves a big pay rise and a special place in Hell.

Garrison · 26th March 2020, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

“The government should have given funding to existing ventilator manufacturers, and existing companies like us.”

Onn BBC 'Newsnight'

So the govt still acting like spivs, giving contracts to their donors who have never made any medical equipment and have no manufacturing in the UK rather than to existing manufacturers of ventilatorsl.

And it seems prioritizing 'Brexit over breathing':

MP backlash over EU ventilator scheme

Quote:

The government is facing a backlash from MPs for not joining an EU scheme to get extra ventilators during the coronavirus outbreak.
The bloc has said the UK can take part in the project, which will use the EU's buying power to purchase more stock.
But a No 10 spokesman said the UK was "making [its] own efforts".
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran accused the PM of putting "Brexit over breathing".

William Parcher · 26th March 2020, 10:17 AM

UK to announce help for the self-employed.

Planigale · 26th March 2020, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by William Parcher

UK to announce help for the self-employed.

Making ventilators?

Planigale · 26th March 2020, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Ivor the Engineer

Like the drive for people to donate metal objects in WWII. Aluminium pans to spitfires! Iron gates to tanks! Broken Dyson vacuum cleaners to ventilators!

When teaching medical students we often say that ventilators are like vacuum cleaners only blowing rather than sucking.

William Parcher · 26th March 2020, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Planigale

Making ventilators?

My guess is that the self employed will get free money.

Mid · 26th March 2020, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Garrison

And it seems prioritizing 'Brexit over breathing':

MP backlash over EU ventilator scheme

Not to worry apparently the email was lost in the spam filter

:

Quote:

Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...0878a2a48aae73

which is completely believable and not at all an obvious lie

Garrison · 26th March 2020, 11:54 AM

And it appears that after the outcry over not joining the EU scheme the government is claiming the failure to join the EU scheme was the result of a mix up, apparently the officials didn't get the emails. Probably have all mail from the EU sent straight to their spam folder...

ERTA: Ninja'd by Mid

P.J. Denyer · 26th March 2020, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by William Parcher

My guess is that the self employed will get free money.

Well, we do pay taxes too and they're giving it out to larger businesses. But I doubt many of us will do particularly well out of it.

William Parcher · 26th March 2020, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by P.J. Denyer

Well, we do pay taxes too and they're giving it out to larger businesses. But I doubt many of us will do particularly well out of it.

You might not get help because you haven't gone out of business - you are still walking dogs for pay.

Andy_Ross · 26th March 2020, 12:30 PM

Self employed will get paid based on average of income over a number of months based on previous tax returns.
If you haven't been self employed for a year and sent in a tax return you get nothing at all.
Advice is tough **** sign up for Universal credit, it's 'too complicated' to do anything about it.

dann · 26th March 2020, 01:30 PM

Cuba takes in British cruise ship MS Braemar:

Cuba will accept and assist travelers on British cruise ship MS Braemar (Granma, March 16, 2020)
A safe port amidst adversity (Granma, March 18, 2020)
Images of the historic moment Cuba mobilizes to save passengers and crew on the MS Braemar (+ Photos) (Granma, March 19, 2020)

And sends medical teams to help fight the coronavirus in other countries, including Lombardy, Italy:

#CubaSalva: The Revolution’s humanist practice (Granma, March 24, 2020)
Cuba ha annunciato l’invio di una brigata medica in missione solidaria in Italia (Granma, March 20, 2020)
“Humanitarian Solidarity”: Even Under U.S. Sanctions, Cuba Sends Doctor Brigade to Italy and More (DemocracyNow March 24, 2020)
Coronavirus-hit countries are asking Cuba for medical help. Why is the US opposed? (CNN, March 26, 2020)

Cuban Doctors - Medics head to Italy to help battle virus (Al Jazeera, March 22, 2020)

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Cuban Health Care Workers Were Greeted with Applause in Italy (Now This, March 23, 2020)

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I AGREE

chrispy · 26th March 2020, 02:15 PM

Our Gov't just extended our lockdown another month. We haven't heard if our current 4 pm to 4 AM curfew will stay in place. *sigh*... My work has been closed for 2 weeks and no end in sight. I'm stuck financially. Gov't says that electricity and intenet can't be cut off for failure to pay, but who knows. Our water is distributed by the municipality, so that should be OK... FML

a_unique_person · 26th March 2020, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Planigale

So this is what it looks like
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043767
Not too gaudy.

From what I can make out from the picture it looks like a pressure cycled ventilator. Whether it is patient triggered or delivers mandatory ventilation is unclear. Not hugely sophisticated but if you have relatively inexperienced staff that is not a bad thing.

ETA
Government specification
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-specification

What did the call it? The " Vampire Monster Godzilla" works for me.

catsmate · 26th March 2020, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by ceptimus

Prince Charles has been tested for COVID-19 (he has mild symptoms and has tested positive). There still aren't any tests available for doctors and nurses nor for any normal person without very severe symptoms - but things are different when you're royal.

Originally Posted by ceptimus

We're all in this together. Except that we aren't.

It's your monarchy.

catsmate · 26th March 2020, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim

This twitter thread about how the UK government is failing to protect frontline medical staff, and failing to follow WHO's advice is infuriating. Worth reading the whole thing (it's short), but the key points are: a British company making a rapid test is exporting them because it can't sell them to the NHS here; a company who makes PPE has also been turned down for selling them to the NHS, while NHS staff have inadequate PPE and are being told to share masks; WHO is urging countries to test as many people as possible, yet the UK is only testing people admitted to hospital, is not testing NHS staff, and even abandoned all together for a period of time.

Are they Conservative party donors and/or ardent Brexit supporters?

catsmate · 26th March 2020, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

Ordering and producing are different things. What is the lead time on this?

Given that, unlike the companies who specialise in and currently produce actual ventilators (rather than overpriced vacuum cleaners), Dyson's design has yet to be tested and validated quite a long time.
But then Dyson is a supporter of the Conservative Party, Brexit and the Bouffant Buffoon.

catsmate · 26th March 2020, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by Darat

It’s a potential order based on them getting a prototype design approved, then they have to start the manufacturing, it is going to take more than 2 weeks.

They'd also have to develop the tooling to manufacture the parts and manage QC.

catsmate · 26th March 2020, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

“The government should have given funding to existing ventilator manufacturers, and existing companies like us.”

Onn BBC 'Newsnight'

So the govt still acting like spivs, giving contracts to their donors who have never made any medical equipment and have no manufacturing in the UK rather than to existing manufacturers of ventilatorsl.

Utterly unsurprising. Like BoJo's refusal to join the European ventilator consortium because the UK could do better on its own.
Thankfully this bit of jingoistic, Brexiteer nonsense has been scrapped.

catsmate · 26th March 2020, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Ivor the Engineer

Covid-19 is the least of your worries in Midsommer.

Indeed, Watch out for sinister undertakers and cheese wheels,

catsmate · 26th March 2020, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by dann

Cuba takes in British cruise ship MS Braemar:

Cuba will accept and assist travelers on British cruise ship MS Braemar (Granma, March 16, 2020)
A safe port amidst adversity (Granma, March 18, 2020)
Images of the historic moment Cuba mobilizes to save passengers and crew on the MS Braemar (+ Photos) (Granma, March 19, 2020)

And sends medical teams to help fight the coronavirus in other countries, including Lombardy, Italy:

#CubaSalva: The Revolution’s humanist practice (Granma, March 24, 2020)
Cuba ha annunciato l’invio di una brigata medica in missione solidaria in Italia (Granma, March 20, 2020)
“Humanitarian Solidarity”: Even Under U.S. Sanctions, Cuba Sends Doctor Brigade to Italy and More (DemocracyNow March 24, 2020)
Coronavirus-hit countries are asking Cuba for medical help. Why is the US opposed? (CNN, March 26, 2020)

Cuban Doctors - Medics head to Italy to help battle virus (Al Jazeera, March 22, 2020)

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Cuban Health Care Workers Were Greeted with Applause in Italy (Now This, March 23, 2020)

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

An authoritarian state, an island, and an excellent health care system, they're well poised to fight Covid-19.

25th March 2020, 04:56 PM	#361
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 112,586	Originally Posted by Planigale And some people mocked me! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043767 It’s a potential order based on them getting a prototype design approved, then they have to start the manufacturing, it is going to take more than 2 weeks. But note this is not what some people were calling for I.e the idea that a someone like a car manufacturer could almost immediately switch their production lines to making ventilators. In fact this is what was suggested by some people in this thread. Assuming they can produce an adequate model I wonder whether Dylan will be sharing their design with other engineering companies....
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

25th March 2020, 10:22 PM	#362
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Waiting for the pod bay door to open. Posts: 46,004	I suppose they will include the Dyson markup and be made entirely of plastic with some gaudy plastic structural features that serve no purpose at all.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. “Perception is real, but the truth is not.” - Imelda Marcos

26th March 2020, 01:09 AM	#363
Aber Master Poster Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,093	Originally Posted by Darat It’s a potential order based on them getting a prototype design approved, Approval expected tomorrow https://www.ft.com/content/4cc667f2-...f-41bea055720b
Aber Master Poster Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,093

26th March 2020, 01:27 AM	#364
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 112,586	Originally Posted by Aber Approval expected tomorrow https://www.ft.com/content/4cc667f2-...f-41bea055720b Subscription required, all the other articles I've read are just saying soon not tomorrow? Fingers crossed its not as bad as his washers!
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

26th March 2020, 02:00 AM	#366
Planigale Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: 49 North Posts: 6,539	Originally Posted by a_unique_person I suppose they will include the Dyson markup and be made entirely of plastic with some gaudy plastic structural features that serve no purpose at all. So this is what it looks like https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043767 Not too gaudy. From what I can make out from the picture it looks like a pressure cycled ventilator. Whether it is patient triggered or delivers mandatory ventilation is unclear. Not hugely sophisticated but if you have relatively inexperienced staff that is not a bad thing. ETA Government specification https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-specification
	Last edited by Planigale; 26th March 2020 at 02:04 AM.

26th March 2020, 01:53 AM	#365
The Don Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sir Fynwy Posts: 37,267	Originally Posted by Darat Subscription required, all the other articles I've read are just saying soon not tomorrow? Fingers crossed its not as bad as his washers! I searched for the headline and was able to access the article. Here is the paragraph regarding regulatory approval: Quote: The appliances maker told staff it had received a UK government order for 10,000 of the devices and aims to begin delivering them “in weeks”, contingent on regulatory approval it expects to obtain on Friday.* The expectation is from Dyson, which may or may not be realistic.

26th March 2020, 02:09 AM	#367
Pixel42 Schrödinger's cat Join Date: May 2004 Location: Malmesbury, UK Posts: 15,951	Sounds like they're going to be made in the aircraft hangars at the Hullavington site Dyson recently bought, which is a couple of miles from me.
	__________________ "If you trust in yourself ... and believe in your dreams ... and follow your star ... you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things" - Terry Pratchett

26th March 2020, 02:40 AM	#368
Ivor the Engineer Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 9,583	How appropriate is it that the trade nickname for Dyson products is Die-soon!

26th March 2020, 02:57 AM	#369
Ivor the Engineer Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 9,583	Having worked on developing medical products in the past the biggest delay will not be the engineering per se, but the huge amounts of verification and documentation that needs to be completed and signed-off before a product is allowed anywhere near a patient outside a controlled trial setting. This can take months, particularly if the product has software controlling vital functions. The only way round this is if a company is simply making direct copies of an existing design that has already passed all the necessary regulatory approvals.

26th March 2020, 03:20 AM	#370
The Don Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sir Fynwy Posts: 37,267	Originally Posted by Ivor the Engineer Having worked on developing medical products in the past the biggest delay will not be the engineering per se, but the huge amounts of verification and documentation that needs to be completed and signed-off before a product is allowed anywhere near a patient outside a controlled trial setting. This can take months, particularly if the product has software controlling vital functions. The only way round this is if a company is simply making direct copies of an existing design that has already passed all the necessary regulatory approvals. Perhaps the government is willing to shortcut, or even eliminate, that process in the face of the Coronavirus crisis and because Dyson are ~~major donors~~ renowned for the excellence and reliability of their products. Having seen the number of Dyson vacuum cleaners my various friends have been through over the years (as opposed to the Panasonic upright one Mrs Don and I bought in 1993 and which is still doing sterling service), I'd have no qualms about bypassing approvals.

26th March 2020, 03:32 AM	#371
Andy_Ross Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 46,385	“The government should have given funding to existing ventilator manufacturers, and existing companies like us.” Quote: Andrew Raynor of MEC Medical, a medical parts manufacturer, says “nothing” happened when he contacted the govt offering to make #Covid19 ventilators Onn BBC 'Newsnight' So the govt still acting like spivs, giving contracts to their donors who have never made any medical equipment and have no manufacturing in the UK rather than to existing manufacturers of ventilatorsl.

26th March 2020, 03:40 AM	#372
Andy_Ross Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 46,385	UK govt says they can't release full figures for deaths without permission from families because of 'data protection rules' So UK figures are lower than they should be.

26th March 2020, 03:42 AM	#373
Squeegee Beckenheim Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 32,124	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop UK govt says they can't release full figures for deaths without permission from families because of 'data protection rules' That sounds like absolute nonsense. I can imagine that maybe they can't release names, but statistics? Why doesn't that apply to all deaths? I can believe they're artificially reducing the numbers, though.
	__________________ I don't trust atoms. They make up everything.

26th March 2020, 03:49 AM	#374
GlennB Loggerheaded, earth-vexing fustilarian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 30,952	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop UK govt says they can't release full figures for deaths without permission from families because of 'data protection rules' That sounds like total bollocks. Can the publication of anonymous numbers be restricted by 'data protection rules'?
	__________________ "There ain't half been some clever bastards" - Ian Dury

26th March 2020, 03:59 AM	#375
Andy_Ross Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 46,385	It was on BBC Newsnight, Department of Health says it's data protection laws stopping hospitals releasing the cause of death, they are only allowed to release total number of deaths at the hospital. Complete bollocks of course but it does make it look like the death rate has dropped.

26th March 2020, 04:00 AM	#376
The Don Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sir Fynwy Posts: 37,267	Originally Posted by GlennB That sounds like total bollocks. Can the publication of anonymous numbers be restricted by 'data protection rules'? It depends on whether there's a breakdown by age, gender or location. If the figures could be used to show that an 80-85 year old woman died in Midsommer, and the population is small enough to identify the individual, then that could be a problem.

26th March 2020, 04:02 AM	#377
Ivor the Engineer Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 9,583	Originally Posted by The Don It depends on whether there's a breakdown by age, gender or location. If the figures could be used to show that an 80-85 year old woman died in Midsommer, and the population is small enough to identify the individual, then that could be a problem. Covid-19 is the least of your worries in Midsommer.

26th March 2020, 04:03 AM	#378
The Don Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sir Fynwy Posts: 37,267	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop “The government should have given funding to existing ventilator manufacturers, and existing companies like us.” Quote: Quote: Andrew Raynor of MEC Medical, a medical parts manufacturer, says “nothing” happened when he contacted the govt offering to make #Covid19 ventilators On BBC 'Newsnight' So the govt still acting like spivs, giving contracts to their donors who have never made any medical equipment and have no manufacturing in the UK rather than to existing manufacturers of ventilators. It's much better to be seen to be taking extraordinary measures than simply doing a little bit more. "Government moving mountains to allow Dyson to make ventilators" makes the government seem much more dynamic than "MEC Medical to scale up production"

26th March 2020, 04:14 AM	#379
Ivor the Engineer Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 9,583	Originally Posted by The Don It's much better to be seen to be taking extraordinary measures than simply doing a little bit more. "Government moving mountains to allow Dyson to make ventilators" makes the government seem much more dynamic than "MEC Medical to scale up production" Like the drive for people to donate metal objects in WWII. Aluminium pans to spitfires! Iron gates to tanks! Broken Dyson vacuum cleaners to ventilators!

26th March 2020, 08:43 AM	#380
P.J. Denyer Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,899	I heard on the radio that the government has distanced itself from Dyson over this, possibly because some (less politically active) manufactures of medical equipment have come forward to say that they have offered to increase production and had no response. A Downing St spokesman has stated that no orders will be placed until proof of concept models have been evaluated from a number of companies. The media of course is full of stories of how Dyson is supplying 10,000 ventilators, someone in marketing has earned themselves a big pay rise and a special place in Hell.
P.J. Denyer Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,899	__________________ "I know my brain cannot tell me what to think." - Scorpion "Nebulous means Nebulous" - Adam Hills

26th March 2020, 09:27 AM	#381
Garrison Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: UK Posts: 6,100	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop “The government should have given funding to existing ventilator manufacturers, and existing companies like us.” Onn BBC 'Newsnight' So the govt still acting like spivs, giving contracts to their donors who have never made any medical equipment and have no manufacturing in the UK rather than to existing manufacturers of ventilatorsl. And it seems prioritizing 'Brexit over breathing': MP backlash over EU ventilator scheme Quote: The government is facing a backlash from MPs for not joining an EU scheme to get extra ventilators during the coronavirus outbreak. The bloc has said the UK can take part in the project, which will use the EU's buying power to purchase more stock. But a No 10 spokesman said the UK was "making [its] own efforts". Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran accused the PM of putting "Brexit over breathing".
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26th March 2020, 10:17 AM	#382
William Parcher Show me the monkey! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 26,434	UK to announce help for the self-employed.
	__________________ Bigfoot believers and Bigfoot skeptics are both plumb crazy. Each spends more than one minute per year thinking about Bigfoot.

26th March 2020, 10:43 AM	#383
Planigale Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: 49 North Posts: 6,539	Originally Posted by William Parcher UK to announce help for the self-employed. Making ventilators?

26th March 2020, 10:45 AM	#384
Planigale Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: 49 North Posts: 6,539	Originally Posted by Ivor the Engineer Like the drive for people to donate metal objects in WWII. Aluminium pans to spitfires! Iron gates to tanks! Broken Dyson vacuum cleaners to ventilators! When teaching medical students we often say that ventilators are like vacuum cleaners only blowing rather than sucking.

26th March 2020, 10:57 AM	#385
William Parcher Show me the monkey! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 26,434	Originally Posted by Planigale Making ventilators? My guess is that the self employed will get free money.
	__________________ Bigfoot believers and Bigfoot skeptics are both plumb crazy. Each spends more than one minute per year thinking about Bigfoot.

26th March 2020, 11:51 AM	#386
Mid Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,120	Originally Posted by Garrison And it seems prioritizing 'Brexit over breathing': MP backlash over EU ventilator scheme Not to worry apparently the email was lost in the spam filter : Quote: Owing to an initial communication problem, the UK did not receive an invitation in time to join in four joint procurements in response to the coronavirus pandemic. https://www.theguardian.com/politics...0878a2a48aae73 which is completely believable and not at all an obvious lie
Mid Graduate Poster Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,120

26th March 2020, 11:54 AM	#387
Garrison Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: UK Posts: 6,100	And it appears that after the outcry over not joining the EU scheme the government is claiming the failure to join the EU scheme was the result of a mix up, apparently the officials didn't get the emails. Probably have all mail from the EU sent straight to their spam folder... ERTA: Ninja'd by Mid
	__________________ So I've started a blog about my writing. Check it out at: http://fourth-planet-problem.blogspot.com/ And my first book is on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077W322FX Last edited by Garrison; 26th March 2020 at 12:00 PM.

26th March 2020, 12:01 PM	#388
P.J. Denyer Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,899	Originally Posted by William Parcher My guess is that the self employed will get free money. Well, we do pay taxes too and they're giving it out to larger businesses. But I doubt many of us will do particularly well out of it.
P.J. Denyer Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9,899	__________________ "I know my brain cannot tell me what to think." - Scorpion "Nebulous means Nebulous" - Adam Hills

26th March 2020, 12:09 PM	#389
William Parcher Show me the monkey! Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 26,434	Originally Posted by P.J. Denyer Well, we do pay taxes too and they're giving it out to larger businesses. But I doubt many of us will do particularly well out of it. You might not get help because you haven't gone out of business - you are still walking dogs for pay.
	__________________ Bigfoot believers and Bigfoot skeptics are both plumb crazy. Each spends more than one minute per year thinking about Bigfoot.

26th March 2020, 12:30 PM	#390
Andy_Ross Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 46,385	Self employed will get paid based on average of income over a number of months based on previous tax returns. If you haven't been self employed for a year and sent in a tax return you get nothing at all. Advice is tough **** sign up for Universal credit, it's 'too complicated' to do anything about it.

26th March 2020, 02:15 PM	#392
chrispy Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Solola, Guatemala Posts: 1,185	Our Gov't just extended our lockdown another month. We haven't heard if our current 4 pm to 4 AM curfew will stay in place. sigh... My work has been closed for 2 weeks and no end in sight. I'm stuck financially. Gov't says that electricity and intenet can't be cut off for failure to pay, but who knows. Our water is distributed by the municipality, so that should be OK... FML
	__________________ Just a spec in the Spectrum...

26th March 2020, 02:26 PM	#393
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Waiting for the pod bay door to open. Posts: 46,004	Originally Posted by Planigale So this is what it looks like https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52043767 Not too gaudy. From what I can make out from the picture it looks like a pressure cycled ventilator. Whether it is patient triggered or delivers mandatory ventilation is unclear. Not hugely sophisticated but if you have relatively inexperienced staff that is not a bad thing. ETA Government specification https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-specification What did the call it? The " Vampire Monster Godzilla" works for me.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. “Perception is real, but the truth is not.” - Imelda Marcos

26th March 2020, 03:01 PM	#394
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 29,783	Originally Posted by ceptimus Prince Charles has been tested for COVID-19 (he has mild symptoms and has tested positive). There still aren't any tests available for doctors and nurses nor for any normal person without very severe symptoms - but things are different when you're royal. Originally Posted by ceptimus We're all in this together. Except that we aren't. It's your monarchy.
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.

26th March 2020, 03:03 PM	#395
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 29,783	Originally Posted by Squeegee Beckenheim This twitter thread about how the UK government is failing to protect frontline medical staff, and failing to follow WHO's advice is infuriating. Worth reading the whole thing (it's short), but the key points are: a British company making a rapid test is exporting them because it can't sell them to the NHS here; a company who makes PPE has also been turned down for selling them to the NHS, while NHS staff have inadequate PPE and are being told to share masks; WHO is urging countries to test as many people as possible, yet the UK is only testing people admitted to hospital, is not testing NHS staff, and even abandoned all together for a period of time. Are they Conservative party donors and/or ardent Brexit supporters?
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.

26th March 2020, 03:06 PM	#396
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 29,783	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop Ordering and producing are different things. What is the lead time on this? Given that, unlike the companies who specialise in and currently produce actual ventilators (rather than overpriced vacuum cleaners), Dyson's design has yet to be tested and validated quite a long time. But then Dyson is a supporter of the Conservative Party, Brexit and the Bouffant Buffoon.
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.