Disposable humans?
A response to the recent social commentary on the perceived value of individuals with ‘underlying health conditions’ The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the fabric of society and has left many wondering about the social, political and economic structures that will...
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The stop-start of collaboration in clinical settings
A post about the difficulties of applied interdisciplinary social science and healthcare collaboration in clinical settings Healthcare organisations and healthcare professionals are under a constant imperative to innovate. Social scientists, in the era of impact, are being asked to play...
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Loss and Grief during COVID
As inherently social beings, most of us have a need for physical contact with others to provide comfort during difficult emotional times. Losing a loved one during the COVID pandemic brings this into sharp relief, with social isolation making loss...
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The psychology of mutual aid
making sense of the public response to coronavirus (and how to sustain it) in an era of entrenched inequality Worthing is a Sussex town on the south coast. In the last few weeks, as Coronavirus has swept through our country,...
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In it together or socially distant?
COVID-19 is presented as an equal opportunities virus. It does not discriminate and can strike down anyone on an almost random basis. Witness the Insta postings by Madonna speaking from a rose petal filled bath and by David Geffen aboard...
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Gallery
What We Have Seen March 26th. Colchester. Junk mail still arriving – the local pizza place doesn’t seem to be up to speed with the details of the lockdown regulations! After some weeks, local shop finally has delivery of hand...
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A ‘virtual status’ in healthcare: Immigrant ‘key worker’ against the coronavirus crisis
A ‘key worker’ is defined by NHS Business as ‘a care professional who takes a key role in coordinating the care of the patient and promoting continuity, ensuring the patient knows who to access for information and advice’. National Health Service (NHS)...
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‘It’s a kind of magic’
COVID attire, mimesis and the limits of rationalism[1] Over the past few weeks, airport travel has had the feel of a global game of musical chairs, with everyone scrambling to find their seat (i.e., return home) before the music stops...
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Uncertainty and anxiety: the ‘responsible public’ in lockdown
If you want to see the impact of the lockdown, the first thing you will want to do is look outside your window. Listen to the eerie silence in the streets- no moving traffic or people. If you can take...
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What’s missing from the UK COVID response? Clear communication
If we were playing a game of Just A Minute with the political response to the COVID pandemic, the UK government would have been stopped multiple times for hesitation, repetition and deviation. The phrase ‘this is a war’ would be...
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The first of April and who was laughing?
April fool anyone? Or perhaps an April fish? Not in the mood? No, me neither. Although my younger daughter cling-filmed the toilet bowl and salted her mother’s morning cup of tea. My age-dulled palate barely registered the salt, and an...
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Health Inequalities and COVID-19