Coronavirus: Call for Fifers to ease pressure on emergency services by following the rules

The calls have come from Councillor Neil Crooks, convener of Kirkcaldy Area Committee – and a former firefighter – as well as senior police officers and health staff as the district faces a second wave through the long dark months.

Mr Crooks is acutely aware of the daily challenges facing uniformed staff and how these pressures are in danger of ‘silently suffocating workers’ due to the coronavirus crisis.

He is concerned that people are now becoming frustrated with the restrictions and have been breaking the rules, particularly when it comes to either holding or attending house parties - and he has issued a clear reminder of the dangers of the virus, and the importance of adhering to the restrictions in order to prevent the emergency services from becoming overwhelmed this winter.

Mr Crooks, who represents Kirkcaldy North, said: “As a former frontline fire officer I am acutely aware of the daily pressures on all uniformed staff and how those pressures are in danger of almost silently suffocating workers due to Covid-19.

“School dinner ladies, cleaners, shop workers, carers, police and fire officers, health workers, the military, bus drivers, taxi operators, school teachers, university staff and Council staff support the public on a daily basis. There is an army of volunteers running foodbanks, delivering and collecting medicine, popping in to chat to elderly relatives and neighbours and looking out for their well-being with little regard for their own safety.

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“This group make the world go around, make us feel safe and secure and provide hope for a better time when Covid-19 will be suppressed controlled and hopefully extinguished.”

But he said: “There are other groups equally disregarding any threat to their own health – and not in a good way. People, young and old, want to have a good time and with the entertainment and events world basically collapsing around our ears, it’s no surprise they are frustrated.

“In four weekends recently Police Scotland attended 1400 gatherings in private houses dispersed over 3200 people issued 253 fixed penalty notices and made 47 Covid-related arrests.

“Dealing with personal frustration through house parties finds people breaking the current laws of Scotland. There is unlikely to be social distancing observation of any kind, masks not being worn, and in the minds of some younger people, the health message they take in says Covid doesn’t affect them at all.

"Why am I highlighting this?

“Exhausted health and care workers have barely recovered from Covid’s first wave mentally or physically. Every action society takes which assists to spread the virus directly negatively affects the health and wellbeing of our friends and families employed on the front line.”

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He added: “It does no harm to remind myself of the uniformed and volunteer army of workers I know personally to sharpen my thoughts on whether I carry a mask, socially distance, or avoid gatherings. Sharing that reminder to myself publicly might help others to do the same.”

Inspector Gordon Anderson, from Kirkcaldy Police Station, echoed Mr Crooks’ concerns and said local officers have responded to many calls from the public regarding illegal gatherings.

He urged Fifers to do the right thing and follow the rules.

He said: "Our officers have responded to a large number of calls to house gatherings in recent weeks, the vast majority of which were smaller groups of different households meeting indoors.

"These gatherings involving people of all ages.

"House gatherings, no matter the size, cause the virus to spread and we are asking people to do the right thing and take personal responsibility.

"I fully understand and appreciate the implications that the current restrictions have on daily lives of people across Fife, but the laws are in place to stop the spread of coronavirus and help save lives.”

He added: “Officers will continue to engage with the public and explain the regulations, but anyone clearly breaking the law should be in no doubt that they will be met with a robust response from Police Scotland.”

Speaking to staff at Victoria Hospital in a video message - posted the NHS Fife Facebook page at the end of last month - Dr Chris McKenna revealed the pressure they are under and how the situation has changed since the summer.

One senior A&E doctor said: “It has certainly been more busy recently. I think over the past couple of weeks the numbers have picked up and we are seeing more patients through our red zone so it is definitely busier than the summer.”

Another hospital staff member called Matt said: “I was on call a few weeks ago and in that time I didn’t see any Covid but I have been on call this week and already seen quite a lot of presentations with Covid-19 - a lot of people coming in with breathless with a temperature, people of all ages, all backgrounds and people with and without medical conditions, so it is affecting everybody.”

He added: “We want to keep people in Fife safe and we want to be able to look after them and be there for them, but we need them to do their part. We want them to wear a mask, wash their hands, stay two metres apart and try and use their NHS services effectively so we can manage.

"We know this is really tough – it is tough for us too. We want people to keep following the government guidelines and just stick with it.”

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