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A number of questions surely will be asked and need to be addressed.
1. How can we make the patients feel safe? (depends on the fear)
a. Are there COVID patients in the hospital where I am going for my surgery?
b. How will I be kept safe?
The above two elements need different actions (though related) - the possible actions centre around 'testing & tracking' (of patients/staff) and use of 'clean' facilities for surgery and 'specialist' facilities for COVID19 patients - this once again comes with the options of using NHS facilities or private hospitals requisitioned so far. Social distancing in a hospital setting may not be possible once in the wards/theatres, however it can be achieved imaginatively in all other settings - various options can be explored.

2. How will the Nursing Home/Care Home patients be addressed - This appears to be currently in the realm of General Practitioners. Here again there will be elements around making the contract work, supported by additional technological interventions.

If we give sufficient though to it collectively, we can resolve these - albeit some of the potential solutions may be hard to swallow - however it is a bit like an oesophageal obstruction - one can starve to a miserable death or choose a slightly uncomfortable surgical option of enteral feeding.

If we do not open services due to the fear of a second or third peak, we will never arrive there until the advent of an effective vaccine - and that is not an option patients waiting for urgent surgery can be asked to wait for.
Therefore, we have to accept the risk of a second/third peak, try and minimise the impact, be prepared for the peaks when they arise (for they will come, as sure as day follows night) and in the mean time, keep calm and carry on!

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