Government keep saying we are well prepared for the virus, doctors all over the UK are saying no there not, the NHS will struggle to the point of having to decide who gets treated and who don't., should they have breathing problems. Not just China telling porkies.
The final two paragraphs of this article seem to bear out teacake44's contention. One para says: NHS would struggle to cope (Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham. The final para says: government says we are well prepared for UK cases. NHS is well prepared, says a Number 10 spokesman.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-goes-global-should-expect/
Yes, there should always be slack in the system. Efficiency is good but not when done to excess so there's no leeway. A 'just too late' system isn't a wise system.
Currently there is little evidence that wearing a surgical mask provides sufficient protection from all the hazards encountered in an acute health care setting. For this reason, the use of a respirator and face shield should be considered depending on the situation.
General surgeons rarely wear masks these days due to their ineffectiveness.
Orthopaedic surgeons wear hoods when inserting prosthetic knees/hips etc in order to reduce the risk of infection.
The general figure I’ve heard bandied about is that a surgical mask loses any remaining effect after about 8 minutes.
It appears that three senior consultants in every hospital will make decisions on rationing care to ones who may need ventilation. Medics have said the reduction of intensive care beds was scandalous, and have spoken out amid frustration of the dishonest spin the government have put out.