//Tell that to the families of the over 200 health care workers who died of Covid, Nicebloke.
We didn't save their bloody bacon did we!//
No we didn’t. But before we seek out those families, there’s a few more to consider. If you look at the dataset in this article from the ONS:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/datasets/coronaviruscovid19relateddeathsbyoccupationenglandandwales
You will see Covid deaths (per 100,000) in E&W from March to December 2020, tabulated by major occupational groups. There are 25 groups and health professionals feature at No.16. The death rate among transport drivers was six times as high as among health professionals and three times as high among skilled metal and electrical workers. Of course, any death is tragic. But the health professionals were by no means top of the league when it comes to deaths from Covid. But this probably stems from the almost pathological and (in my view) incomprehensible beatification the NHS enjoys. Everybody idolises the nurses, but nobody thinks of the bus drivers.
Here's the list:
1. Transport and mobile machine drivers and operatives
2. Elementary administration and service occupations
3. Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades
4. Skilled construction and building trades
5. Corporate managers and directors
6. Process, plant and machine operatives
7. Other managers and proprietors
8. Elementary trades and related occupations
9. Caring personal service occupations
10. Textiles, printing and other skilled trades
11. Administrative occupations:
12. Business and public service associate professionals
13. Business, media and public service professionals
14. Science, research, engineering and technology professionals
15. Sales occupations
16. Health professionals
17. Protective service occupations
18. Teaching and educational professionals
19. Leisure, travel and related personal service occupations
20. Culture, media and sports occupations
21. Skilled agricultural and related trades
22. Science, Engineering and technology associate professionals
23. Health and social care associate professionals
24. Customer service occupations
25. Secretarial and related occupations