A new normal in healthcare

Following the Government's announcement of plans to ease the UK lockdown, beginning with schools reopening on 1 June, many are abuzz with thoughts of returning to work and the possibility of life beginning to return to normal. Points have been made about the ability of young children, particularly those at nursery age, to social distance, as well as the possible health-related dangers of this and actually sending children back to school, not least on the teachers involved. The threat of a second wave of the virus if lockdown is eased too early, as well as before a vaccine is found, is possible, with experts such as England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Witty claiming that another peak could be even deadlier than the first (Gulland, 2020). However, the threat of another peak can be prepared for by dealing with ongoing problems in the NHS, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages. Observing other countries around the world, for example, those in Scandinavia, it can be noted that the decrease in new cases and deaths can be used as a time to prepare for this possibility and, if a second wave does occur, it can be localised, and the danger minimised.