Amy Smith
@amyannp.bsky.social
Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, ASPH, UK. Passionate about high quality care, education, kindness, advocacy and family integrated care.
Love the NHS 🌈💙 Proud to be an ally.
Views are my own😊She/her
Love the NHS 🌈💙 Proud to be an ally.
Views are my own😊She/her
Reposted by Amy Smith
Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers
Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers
Medical bodies warn that hostility towards migrants is behind a 26% rise in departures that imperils NHS
Record numbers of overseas-trained doctors are quitting the UK, leaving the NHS at risk of huge gaps in its workforce, with hostility towards migrants blamed for the exodus.
In all, 4,880 doctors who qualified in another country left the UK during 2024 – a rise of 26% on the 3,869 who did so the year before – figures from the General Medical Council reveal. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Overseas-trained doctors leaving the UK in record numbers
Reposted by Amy Smith
The Covid Inquiry finds that if Boris Johnson had called the first lockdown even one week earlier then it could have saved at least 20,000 lives.
Here's a quick reminder of what Johnson was actually doing during those weeks
Here's a quick reminder of what Johnson was actually doing during those weeks
November 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The Covid Inquiry finds that if Boris Johnson had called the first lockdown even one week earlier then it could have saved at least 20,000 lives.
Here's a quick reminder of what Johnson was actually doing during those weeks
Here's a quick reminder of what Johnson was actually doing during those weeks
Reposted by Amy Smith
They missed opportunities to save lives….
But, didn’t miss opportunities for political friends to make £billions from VIP Lane PPE and Covid Testing deals..
Viplanebook.com
@bylinetimes.bsky.social @goodlawproject.org @goodlawproject.bsky.social @mrjamesob.bsky.social
But, didn’t miss opportunities for political friends to make £billions from VIP Lane PPE and Covid Testing deals..
Viplanebook.com
@bylinetimes.bsky.social @goodlawproject.org @goodlawproject.bsky.social @mrjamesob.bsky.social
Day by day, how Johnson and Hancock missed opportunities to grip Covid crisis trib.al/OK0T0YX
Day by day, how Johnson and Hancock missed opportunities to grip Covid crisis
Baroness Heather Hallett’s report on the government response to Covid accused Johnson of being too “optimistic” in his outlook in the early months of 2020
inews.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
They missed opportunities to save lives….
But, didn’t miss opportunities for political friends to make £billions from VIP Lane PPE and Covid Testing deals..
Viplanebook.com
@bylinetimes.bsky.social @goodlawproject.org @goodlawproject.bsky.social @mrjamesob.bsky.social
But, didn’t miss opportunities for political friends to make £billions from VIP Lane PPE and Covid Testing deals..
Viplanebook.com
@bylinetimes.bsky.social @goodlawproject.org @goodlawproject.bsky.social @mrjamesob.bsky.social
Reposted by Amy Smith
🗣️ Many will conclude what they knew already: the government acted too little, too late, there was chaos and toxicity, and later decisions were not backed by data.
@krishgm.bsky.social writes in the latest edition of our weekly long read newsletter, InDepth
@krishgm.bsky.social writes in the latest edition of our weekly long read newsletter, InDepth
Covid Inquiry: Too little, too late - too many lives lost
Many will conclude what they knew already: the government acted too little, too late, there was chaos and toxicity, and later decisions were not backed by data, writes Krishnan Guru-Murthy.
channel4news.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:06 PM
🗣️ Many will conclude what they knew already: the government acted too little, too late, there was chaos and toxicity, and later decisions were not backed by data.
@krishgm.bsky.social writes in the latest edition of our weekly long read newsletter, InDepth
@krishgm.bsky.social writes in the latest edition of our weekly long read newsletter, InDepth
Reposted by Amy Smith
UK Covid-19 Inquiry says govt response to the pandemic in March 2020 was "too little, too late"
Imposing lockdown a week earlier could have saved 23,000 lives in England
In 2016 govt knew the NHS couldn't cope with a flu epidemic but had no plan.
What did austerity do?
Imposing lockdown a week earlier could have saved 23,000 lives in England
In 2016 govt knew the NHS couldn't cope with a flu epidemic but had no plan.
What did austerity do?
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
UK Covid-19 Inquiry says govt response to the pandemic in March 2020 was "too little, too late"
Imposing lockdown a week earlier could have saved 23,000 lives in England
In 2016 govt knew the NHS couldn't cope with a flu epidemic but had no plan.
What did austerity do?
Imposing lockdown a week earlier could have saved 23,000 lives in England
In 2016 govt knew the NHS couldn't cope with a flu epidemic but had no plan.
What did austerity do?
Reposted by Amy Smith
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:43 PM
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Amy Smith
Boris Johnson’s lack of leadership over the seriousness of Covid led to the first lockdown being introduced too late, which contributed to the loss of 23,000 lives, the official inquiry into his handling of the pandemic has concluded
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Boris Johnson's lack of leadership blamed for 23,000 Covid deaths
A scathing report by inquiry chair Baroness Hallett also criticises the Department of Health, led by the current Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald and the then minister Matt Hancock
inews.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Boris Johnson’s lack of leadership over the seriousness of Covid led to the first lockdown being introduced too late, which contributed to the loss of 23,000 lives, the official inquiry into his handling of the pandemic has concluded
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk/news/politic...
Reposted by Amy Smith
Reading the report really took me back to those days all doctors and NHS workers will remember; knowing it was coming, knowing it was going to be bad.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
“Lives could have been saved.”
Today’s Covid Inquiry report lays bare the Government’s catastrophic failure to manage the pandemic, as our council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social told Sky News
Today’s Covid Inquiry report lays bare the Government’s catastrophic failure to manage the pandemic, as our council chair @tomdolphin.bsky.social told Sky News
November 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Reading the report really took me back to those days all doctors and NHS workers will remember; knowing it was coming, knowing it was going to be bad.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
The parts about the opportunities squandered - not just early on but repeatedly - to reduce the impact are really hard to read.
Reposted by Amy Smith
23,000 deaths in England could have been prevented in the first wave of Covid if lockdown had started a week earlier, a new report by the Covid Inquiry has found.
Read more in The Doctor Magazine👇
thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea...
Read more in The Doctor Magazine👇
thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea...
Government response to Covid was ‘too little too late’, inquiry finds
Report says 23,000 deaths could have been avoided with earlier lockdown
thedoctor.bma.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 8:32 PM
23,000 deaths in England could have been prevented in the first wave of Covid if lockdown had started a week earlier, a new report by the Covid Inquiry has found.
Read more in The Doctor Magazine👇
thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea...
Read more in The Doctor Magazine👇
thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/hea...
Reposted by Amy Smith
If NHS trusts hadn’t had to pay more than £1.8 billion in *interest charges* to private companies, that money could have paid for the starting salaries of over 50,000 NHS doctors 😮🚨
November 8, 2025 at 9:09 AM
If NHS trusts hadn’t had to pay more than £1.8 billion in *interest charges* to private companies, that money could have paid for the starting salaries of over 50,000 NHS doctors 😮🚨
Reposted by Amy Smith
Can we focus more on how victims of sexual violence continue to be failed today and less on the drama of the Royal Family? Then perhaps some good might come from this?
October 31, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Can we focus more on how victims of sexual violence continue to be failed today and less on the drama of the Royal Family? Then perhaps some good might come from this?
Reposted by Amy Smith
150,000 aged 90 and above wait 12 hours in England’s A&Es each year.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Nearly 150,000 aged 90 and above wait 12 hours in England’s A&Es each year
Older people left in their own excrement and wet beds for hours and forced to watch others die, Age UK report finds
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:20 AM
150,000 aged 90 and above wait 12 hours in England’s A&Es each year.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Older people left in excrement, wet beds, denied pain relief, forced to watch/hear other patients die.
NHS money pilfered by PFI and privatisation
But ... Govts have fiscal rules and don't want to tax the rich.
Reposted by Amy Smith
Of course she has. The small matter of owing £122 million to UK taxpayers for her disgusting profiteering in a global pandemic means nothing to Michelle Mone.
NHS staff died in my hospital from the Covid they caught there - her dodgy PPE racket was vile.
NHS staff died in my hospital from the Covid they caught there - her dodgy PPE racket was vile.
October 26, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Of course she has. The small matter of owing £122 million to UK taxpayers for her disgusting profiteering in a global pandemic means nothing to Michelle Mone.
NHS staff died in my hospital from the Covid they caught there - her dodgy PPE racket was vile.
NHS staff died in my hospital from the Covid they caught there - her dodgy PPE racket was vile.
Reposted by Amy Smith
NHS needs up to £3bn extra to avoid cuts, health leaders warn.
Cuts = money wasted on redundancies.
NHS leaks money due to PFI, privatisation profits.
6.26m await 7.41m England hospital appointments.
Can't expand economy without healthy workforce.
Must increase NHS capacity. Pay doctors/nurses.
Cuts = money wasted on redundancies.
NHS leaks money due to PFI, privatisation profits.
6.26m await 7.41m England hospital appointments.
Can't expand economy without healthy workforce.
Must increase NHS capacity. Pay doctors/nurses.
NHS needs up to £3bn extra to avoid cuts, health leaders warn
Health leaders say progress on reducing waiting lists will be affected if there is no help in making up the financial shortfall.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 8:04 AM
NHS needs up to £3bn extra to avoid cuts, health leaders warn.
Cuts = money wasted on redundancies.
NHS leaks money due to PFI, privatisation profits.
6.26m await 7.41m England hospital appointments.
Can't expand economy without healthy workforce.
Must increase NHS capacity. Pay doctors/nurses.
Cuts = money wasted on redundancies.
NHS leaks money due to PFI, privatisation profits.
6.26m await 7.41m England hospital appointments.
Can't expand economy without healthy workforce.
Must increase NHS capacity. Pay doctors/nurses.
Reposted by Amy Smith
The Farage Factor.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Racist incidents against UK nurses surge by 55%
Royal College of Nursing calls on government to stop using anti-migrant rhetoric, which it says emboldens racist behaviour
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:56 AM
The Farage Factor.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Amy Smith
We really need to discuss what bribery and corruption are, why some seems to be legal and how to reform it - in the UK before it gets as bad as the US, and of course in the US.
As a GP, I am not allowed to receive a pen or post-it note pad from a pharmaceutical company rep
Govt banned them in case I was influenced to prescribe medications
This should also be banned
Influence being bought in Govt
Patients should influence not the healthy & wealthy
Govt banned them in case I was influenced to prescribe medications
This should also be banned
Influence being bought in Govt
Patients should influence not the healthy & wealthy
October 27, 2025 at 9:43 AM
We really need to discuss what bribery and corruption are, why some seems to be legal and how to reform it - in the UK before it gets as bad as the US, and of course in the US.
Reposted by Amy Smith
As a GP, I am not allowed to receive a pen or post-it note pad from a pharmaceutical company rep
Govt banned them in case I was influenced to prescribe medications
This should also be banned
Influence being bought in Govt
Patients should influence not the healthy & wealthy
Govt banned them in case I was influenced to prescribe medications
This should also be banned
Influence being bought in Govt
Patients should influence not the healthy & wealthy
October 26, 2025 at 9:16 PM
As a GP, I am not allowed to receive a pen or post-it note pad from a pharmaceutical company rep
Govt banned them in case I was influenced to prescribe medications
This should also be banned
Influence being bought in Govt
Patients should influence not the healthy & wealthy
Govt banned them in case I was influenced to prescribe medications
This should also be banned
Influence being bought in Govt
Patients should influence not the healthy & wealthy
Reposted by Amy Smith
This is what tolerance of anti-migrant political rhetoric leads to. A surge in racial abuse against nurses and care workers. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Racist incidents against UK nurses surge by 55%
Royal College of Nursing calls on government to stop using anti-migrant rhetoric, which it says emboldens racist behaviour
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM
This is what tolerance of anti-migrant political rhetoric leads to. A surge in racial abuse against nurses and care workers. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Amy Smith
Scottish ‘junior’ Doctors accepted a pay offer 2023 with no strikes
▪️12.4% 2023
▪️inflation beating pay rises for 3yrs
▪️commitment to full pay restoration
▪️removal from “independent” pay review body
The Govt listened & talked to the BMA🤷🏻♂️
Imagine a Govt willing to negotiate
You can do it Wes!!
▪️12.4% 2023
▪️inflation beating pay rises for 3yrs
▪️commitment to full pay restoration
▪️removal from “independent” pay review body
The Govt listened & talked to the BMA🤷🏻♂️
Imagine a Govt willing to negotiate
You can do it Wes!!
October 27, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Scottish ‘junior’ Doctors accepted a pay offer 2023 with no strikes
▪️12.4% 2023
▪️inflation beating pay rises for 3yrs
▪️commitment to full pay restoration
▪️removal from “independent” pay review body
The Govt listened & talked to the BMA🤷🏻♂️
Imagine a Govt willing to negotiate
You can do it Wes!!
▪️12.4% 2023
▪️inflation beating pay rises for 3yrs
▪️commitment to full pay restoration
▪️removal from “independent” pay review body
The Govt listened & talked to the BMA🤷🏻♂️
Imagine a Govt willing to negotiate
You can do it Wes!!
Reposted by Amy Smith
"Accountability remains almost completely absent. The VIP Lane has been ruled unlawful, but the Covid Inquiry hasn’t called in the companies that profited from it."
Great to talk about all things Covid contracts, VIP Lane and more with @petergeoghegan.bsky.social
for the brilliant Democracy for Sale.
Watch the full interview here: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/the-covid-...
📖 available here: viplanebook.com
for the brilliant Democracy for Sale.
Watch the full interview here: democracyforsale.substack.com/p/the-covid-...
📖 available here: viplanebook.com
The Covid Contracts Scandal - Where’s the Accountability?
Tory donors, crony contracts, vanished billions, and a system still wide open to abuse.
democracyforsale.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:47 AM
"Accountability remains almost completely absent. The VIP Lane has been ruled unlawful, but the Covid Inquiry hasn’t called in the companies that profited from it."
Reposted by Amy Smith
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
October 25, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Yay. Priceless. The right column at the right time. And a gleefully English two fingers to the haters.
Reposted by Amy Smith
Good to see @eddavey.libdems.org.uk being more direct about the disaster that is Brexit. No solution exists to Britain's economic woes that doesn't involve a reversing major parts of the Brexit deal and eventually reversing it altogether.
October 20, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Good to see @eddavey.libdems.org.uk being more direct about the disaster that is Brexit. No solution exists to Britain's economic woes that doesn't involve a reversing major parts of the Brexit deal and eventually reversing it altogether.
Reposted by Amy Smith
Baroness Mone isn’t the only Tory Peer named as a VIP Lane referrer.
Also on the list:
Lord Agnew
Lord Gove
Lord Leigh
Lord Feldman
Lord Chadlington
Lord Marks
Lord Deighton
Lord Bethell
Lord Lansley
Lord Prior
+10 other Tory MP’s 👀⤵️
Listen to my chat with @BylineTimesPod :
Also on the list:
Lord Agnew
Lord Gove
Lord Leigh
Lord Feldman
Lord Chadlington
Lord Marks
Lord Deighton
Lord Bethell
Lord Lansley
Lord Prior
+10 other Tory MP’s 👀⤵️
Listen to my chat with @BylineTimesPod :
Billions of pounds worth of unused #PPE literally went up in smoke.
@russellscott1.bsky.social has been investigating the UK's biggest waste of taxpayer's money - and wonders why no one has been held to account.
@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social
podfollow.com/byline-podca...
@russellscott1.bsky.social has been investigating the UK's biggest waste of taxpayer's money - and wonders why no one has been held to account.
@goldbergradio.bsky.social @bylinetimes.bsky.social
podfollow.com/byline-podca...
Byline Podcast: PPE, The Pandemic and Cronyism with Russell Scott
Adrian Goldberg hears from Russell Scott, author of 'VIP Lane – Cronysim and the Pandemic', which is out now via Byline Books.Produced in Birmingham by Adrian Goldberg and Harvey White. Learn mor...
podfollow.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Baroness Mone isn’t the only Tory Peer named as a VIP Lane referrer.
Also on the list:
Lord Agnew
Lord Gove
Lord Leigh
Lord Feldman
Lord Chadlington
Lord Marks
Lord Deighton
Lord Bethell
Lord Lansley
Lord Prior
+10 other Tory MP’s 👀⤵️
Listen to my chat with @BylineTimesPod :
Also on the list:
Lord Agnew
Lord Gove
Lord Leigh
Lord Feldman
Lord Chadlington
Lord Marks
Lord Deighton
Lord Bethell
Lord Lansley
Lord Prior
+10 other Tory MP’s 👀⤵️
Listen to my chat with @BylineTimesPod :
Reposted by Amy Smith
Former PM Boris Johnson breached rules designed to stop abuse of contacts made in public office.
Secretly lobbied the UAE for a billion-dollar private venture,
Used senior contacts in the Saudi govt to pitch for a consultancy firm.
Lust for private wealth is the main cause of UK decline.
Secretly lobbied the UAE for a billion-dollar private venture,
Used senior contacts in the Saudi govt to pitch for a consultancy firm.
Lust for private wealth is the main cause of UK decline.
Boris Johnson breached rules designed to stop abuse of contacts made in public office, watchdog finds
Johnson found to have breached rules after refusing to answer specific questions about allegations published by the Guardian
www.theguardian.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Former PM Boris Johnson breached rules designed to stop abuse of contacts made in public office.
Secretly lobbied the UAE for a billion-dollar private venture,
Used senior contacts in the Saudi govt to pitch for a consultancy firm.
Lust for private wealth is the main cause of UK decline.
Secretly lobbied the UAE for a billion-dollar private venture,
Used senior contacts in the Saudi govt to pitch for a consultancy firm.
Lust for private wealth is the main cause of UK decline.