IOM Covid removing restrictions

[Apple]

29 minutes ago, littlebushy said:

Did Ashford just say he has a background in project management...and it's important not to get fixated on dates? 

He did. Two of the most important components of a project plan are milestones and completion dates. Without them then sub targets and overall aims will not dovetail together.

He has mentioned his project manager background many, many times as if it somehow justifies his activities. It doesn't.

[Boo Gay'n]

2 hours ago, Galen said:

In pulling together some earlier points

I think you will find that Dr Couch qualified as psychiatrist and not a psychologist. He then went into tax for one of the big oil companies ending up here as Assessor of Income Tax.

Medics traditionally qualify with two first bachelors degrees (usually medicine and surgery) and given the length of study (5 years) are awarded the honorary title "Dr". Some then do doctorates as shown by the post nominal 'MD' if the doctorate is in medicine or 'PhD' if in another subject. Some do academic endeavours outside of medicine and can get PhDs too as Dr Ewart has! Some medics on retiring, and removing themselves from the GMC register, (as registration costs) cease using the title "Dr" but others retain it. Dr Couch does not appear on the GMC register but has kept the title.

Dentists, who study usually for the first two years of their 5 year degree alongside medics and then specialise 'above the neck' traditionally were not given the honorary title 'Doctor' until a few years ago when as I recall, they complained to some EU Board who considered the medical qualification equivalence of EU member states so that clinicians could work in other EU countries without having to take additional exams (unlike the USA where medics can be qualified in one state but not the adjacent one!). As many EU countries called their dentists "Dr" similar to the medics, UK dentists were allowed to use the title without further qualification, training or study. This is why IOM dentists can call themselves 'Dr'.

Psychologists on graduating are not called 'Dr' (unless they do a post graduate qualification at doctorate level) but on becoming professionally qualified (ie experience plus relevant experience and  CPD) can apply, are vetted and interviewed, and if approved can become Chartered Psychologists. This is their professional qualification and is in keeping with Chartered Accountants, Chartered Engineers etc and as with most other professions, are required to undertake CPD activities which are monitored for suitability, have a code of ethics and their names on a public register. 

As to Directors of Public Health (affectionately known in some quarters as 'The Drains Doctors' after the findings of the 1980 'Black Report' which stated the importance of good housing and sanitation in keeping populations healthy) do not need to be medics, though many are. You can become a Director of Public Health with a Masters Degree (usually in Public Health) but also have to have considerable relevant training as one IOM Director of Environmental Health with a Masters in Public Health frequently would tell anyone who would listen! Pub Health Doctors expertise is the health of populations whereas the hospital doctors /GPs specialise in individuals and their health. 

As to IOM CEOs of health service, in the last 25 years, none as I recall have been medically qualified, a couple have had first degrees but not in health, and one a HND and a certificate in management for attending a one week's course at the Kennedy School of Management, Harvard.

In an otherwise comprehensive post, you trip yourself up with an error in the final paragraph.  Couch was medically qualified - probably in academic terms the most qualified chief executive the IOM civil service has ever had.

I met him a couple of times when he was the tax assessor, saw him speak and read stuff that he had written.  He never referred to himself as 'Dr' - it was probably just the government that did that to make clear that they had someone with a brain for a change.

[Apple]

24 minutes ago, Gladys said:

No info on whether those in hospital have had the vaccine or their ages other than it is wide.  Is that really personal information?

No. There seems to be some confusion about what is data and what is information, just as there is between secrecy and confidentiality.

Poor briefing. Expected better in view of the circumstances. Media questions were a real let down as well.

 

[Gladys]

2 minutes ago, Annoymouse said:

If we had lots of Covid deaths I don’t think the data being released would be an issue, but with just one recent death any information that’s now released can be tied directly to that person.

I was referring to info about all hospital cases, not just the person who has sadly died.  

[Manx Yeller]

32 minutes ago, Banker said:

1000 coming out of isolation this weekend according to Howie so maybe cases will also drop 

Number of tests will be an interesting number then since surely all of those 1000 would have to have a test before being released?  Unlikely to be many 21 day isolation (no tests) in that lot?

[Uhtred]

33 minutes ago, snowman said:

Today's most stupid question is 3FM asking about easyJet flights

They're battling Moulton for the title...good on 'em. It takes a special kind of stupid to go toe to toe with him in the idiocy stakes.

[Manx Yeller]

32 minutes ago, Mistercee said:

Had a look at the new "dashboard"  - looks like 10 mins work by a 10 year old. Thought the box in the Case Summary  "recovered or deceased" is a bit tactless.  

Yes, think that needs to be changed asap.  Bit annoying that you can't change any of those figures into daily figures with the exception of the case breakdown unless I'm missing something (i.e. Location, Age, Testing).    

[Happier diner]

5 minutes ago, Boo Gay'n said:

In an otherwise comprehensive post, you trip yourself up with an error in the final paragraph.  Couch was medically qualified - probably in academic terms the most qualified chief executive the IOM civil service has ever had.

I met him a couple of times when he was the tax assessor, saw him speak and read stuff that he had written.  He never referred to himself as 'Dr' - it was probably just the government that did that to make clear that they had someone with a brain for a change.

I sat behind him on the manamnan once. He had a reserved seat. It said Dr Couch. So he clearly refers to himself as Dr when he books his travel. 

[snowman]

13 minutes ago, Cassie2 said:

Obviously not. It is not a question of having a preference just common-sense. What sane person would lump together the numbers of ''RECOVERED'' with the numbers for ''DECEASED''. 

As you can see, Dave himself has agreed with me.

Would you prefer those two categories to be split into two ?

[CallMeCurious]

10 minutes ago, Apple said:

He did. Two of the most important components of a project plan are milestones and completion dates. Without them then sub targets and overall aims will not dovetail together.

He has mentioned his project manager background many, many times as if it somehow justifies his activities. It doesn't.

Did he go to the same school as the Prom project managers?

[Dr. Grumpy]

1 minute ago, Happier diner said:

I sat behind him on the manamnan once. He had a reserved seat. It said Dr Couch. So he clearly refers to himself as Dr when he books his travel. 

And I refer to myself as Laird when I travel, but doesn't mean that I am one 

[TheTeapot]

1 minute ago, Happier diner said:

I sat behind him on the manamnan once. He had a reserved seat. It said Dr Couch. So he clearly refers to himself as Dr when he books his travel. 

On the what?

 

 

[Happier diner]

33 minutes ago, Banker said:

A couple of questions on why channel islands can have dates in exit strategy instead of our waffle document, here’s update on Jersey position, looks like both will be fully open months before us

https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2021/03/12/border-talks-in-progress-as-uk-covid-19-cases-fall/

Our date seems to hinge on everyone being vaccinated. He dropped it in a couple of times this evening. Do the CIs make the same stipulation? 

 

Edited March 12, 2021 by Happier diner

[CallMeCurious]

3 minutes ago, snowman said:

Would you prefer those two categories to be split into two ?

Lies, damned lies, and shtatishtics 😏

[Andy Onchan]

3 hours ago, Dirty Buggane said:

Here's the question. Would you trust any thing the Government Dashboard will show, considering the way they have been with divulging any information so far. I for one will take it with a pinch of salt, as with the fall in cases. You have to test the same amount of people each day for the figures to have any meaning. Or will it be down to logarithm's to prove there figures.

Here's my answer (I've been waiting for a suitable opportunity to post this!):