We should not be terrified by possible barriers to intensive care treatment but should instead think positively

We are all feverishly hoping or praying, that those grim images of London-Milan-Madrid, will not be repeated in Belfast.

Details have emerged in the media, of an NHS scoring system, which helps assess Covid victim suitability for ICU admission.

Frail physical condition, age and recent illnesses are assessed. People scoring over eight points on the score scale may be deemed less suitable for ICU entry or ventilation. But we do not need to be terrified by the reports of this new scoring system, and it might actually help us to think positively:

1. If our Covid case rate, complications and deaths are lower than anticipated, we should strive really hard to preserve this. We need to minimise human contacts at every opportunity over coming weeks. Reports of rural shops doing deliveries, or dropping groceries into the open car boot of a farmer’s car, so that shopping involves absolutely no exchange of paper money or human contact, is one way forward.

2. Local party political squabbling must cease; and we need to accept any offer of help with open arms. The British army, Irish army or other agencies, are all welcome. Germany is said to have two to three times as many ICU beds as the UK per head of population. The very low reported death rate from Covid in Germany, should impress upon us the absolute need to not decline any bed increase or ICU enlargement.

3. We need to support our politicians, medical leaders and senior civil servants, as they ruthlessly minimise non-Covid NHS care for a short season. Resuscitation, ventilation, ICU care, palliative care, and recuperation of Covid victims must receive priority.

NHS ability to offer high quality intensive care therapy, and to preserve dignity in death, might be magnified if attempts to expand hospital (or NHS support services) are seized with both hands.

Our health minister, Mr Robin Swann MLA, has shown political maturity and diplomacy. He deserves the unqualified, and unreserved support, of each and every one of Northern Ireland’s 1.9 million citizens at this testing time.

TJ Hardy, Belfast BT5