Dr. Gary Sidley, a retired clinical psychologist and a contributor to the Daily Sceptic, has written an excellent piece for the Critic about the faulty reasoning behind the ongoing requirement for masking in healthcare settings such as hospitals and GPs’ surgeries. Gary, who also started the Smile Free campaign, wrote an open letter to the NHS chief executives of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. To date, he’s had responses from Wales and Scotland – and the responses contain three fundamental flaws in their attempts to justify the persistence of widespread masking in their clinical areas.
First, contrary to the evidence, there is an underlying assumption that masks are effective in reducing viral transmission. They defend this position by mostly citing reviews conducted by state-funded public health bodies, with insufficient weight given to independent researchers who have conducted randomised controlled trials in real-life settings (for example here and here) and comprehensive evidence reviews (here and here) that all conclude that masking healthy people achieves no appreciable benefits.
Second, it is likely that NHS directives regarding how staff can promote the wearing of face coverings – expressed as “politely encouraged”, “strongly encouraged”, “highlight the benefits” and “recommended” – will habitually morph into the harassment of those people opting not to follow this advice. Consequently, there is a risk of alienating a vulnerable subset of the general public (for example, the elderly, the previously traumatised and those with existing mental health problems), thereby discouraging them from both seeking medical help and visiting hospitalised loved ones.
Third, and most importantly, both responses from the NHS chief executives convey a blinkered perspective on risk. They focus almost exclusively on the threat associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, whilst disregarding the substantial non-Covid harms resulting from the expectation that everyone should wear masks in hospitals, GP practices and health centres. Some of these negative consequences of masking are especially problematic in healthcare settings, including: impaired communication between staff and service users; the aggravation of respiratory problems; the re-traumatising of those with histories of physical and sexual abuse; and the increased risk of falls for the elderly due to the restriction of lower peripheral vision. Apart from fleeting references to “glasses steaming up” and staff sometimes feeling “hot and uncomfortable”, the NHS executives fail to acknowledge the wide-ranging physical, social and psychological harms of masking.
Worth reading in full.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
Politicians have hijacked science.
Indeed, it has devolved to naked Lysenkoism at this point, without even the pretense of scientific integrity now.
And the pharmaceutical companies that fund and make a concerted effort to influence big political parties and the NHS, as journalist Oliver Wright (now working for the Times muppets) pointed out back when he was still allowed to write articles like that.
Or have they created ‘The Science’ to confuse the scientifically illiterate population into thinking their mad decisions are rational?
The ‘distances’ were arbitrary – there was no science behind that, just a back of the fag packet stab at producing a rule which sounded important. (So viruses can’t travel more than 2 metres, eh?). Other favourite back of the fag packet ideas include drinking a max of 14 units of alcohol a week, eating 5 or more fruits/veg a day and drinking god knows how many glasses of water. Masks fell into the same category. I am quite surprised they didn’t think up more ideas based on the lucky rabbit foot principle. We could all have been made to wear wrap around safety specs and rubber gloves every time we went out – and if that were the case, people like the NHS would still be insisting on them. It’s all a load of baloney. If covid was truly dangerous the lockdown would have been total – not a lockdown where you can still pop to Tesco and spend your free government (a.k.a. OUR) money on Amazon deliveries.
Yes and if any of these restrictions had a positive effect it would be reflected in the data. I think we’ve had long enough to gather plenty of data by now! But there is either no significant difference or the polar opposite is true. The only reason we haven’t seen manufactured pandemic after pandemic throughout our lifetimes is because the PCR testing for such things was never a thing. They think we’re all thick as the proverbial!
As thick as they are
And before the units recommendation was reduced to 14, it was 21 in England, but a fair bit more in some other countries (unless you were in Saudi…..). No doubt there are those who would like to prohibit the whole lot. I think we have been suffering from the “something must be done” mentality, regardless of any proper engineering – and taking advantage of poor education, in that many people believed in crap ideas.
The ‘science’ was predicated on the virus being spread in exhaled water droplets which are relatively large and thus will fall in an arc subject to gravity. Lab experiments calculated their trajectory from nose/mouth to ground to be 1metre. Other distances were made up to be ‘even more safe’.
Experiments assumed normal breathing, but did not consider increased velocity while talking, coughing, sneezing nor the effects of thermal currents and airflow.
The main flaw however being that respiratory virus spread as aerosols which exhibit Brownian motion and do not fall due to gravity, but can circulate in the air for considerable periods of time over the entire volume of an enclosed space, with density building up over time as individuals shed more virus.
I’m sure you’re right, and the odd thing is that the so-called experts do not seem to understand it. For what it’s worth, the last time I had any noticeable respiratory infection was almost certainly caused by being in one or two somewhat overcrowded places in the middle of winter, with poor ventilation, where most of us had a few drinks and so on.
Eating plenty of raw food (including fruit and vegetables) and drinking plenty of clean water is actually very good for you. It is a pity that the importance of orthomolecular medicine (as opposed to the big pharma con) isn’t more widely understood, but hey, there’s plenty of money to be made in patented drugs, sugary processed junk food etc. , so what can you do?
(Added sugar actually has the effect of mimicking the appetising taste of fruit at its ripest when it is also at its sweetest and most nutritious, but without the benefits of fruit and also some health problems that you don’t get with fruit. N.B. consume fruit rather than fruit juice – water is the best drink)
Any such number in a regulation or law is chosen not because it’s real or evidential, but simply memorable. For example, convert European round-numbeted KPH speed limits to UK MPH or vica versa and you would get some very odd numbers. There is exactly zero evidential basis behind the precise numbers 30, 40, 60 & 70mph UK speed limits. Same with distancing, many countries had different numbers. Same with vaccines, every country seemed to have different age groups, times, number of boosters, etc. In reality, the whole establishment are lying to us.
If these most hated and demoralizing symbols of submission and allegiance to the Covidian cult reduced transmission then why were they never in place routinely every flu season in healthcare settings prior to 2020? Isn’t the aerosolized particle supposed to be a similar size to the flu particle? Any study that has come out in favour of masks from 2020 until now has consistently been pulled to bits by experts much better qualified to scrutinize scientific papers than me.
And besides, how many of these professional ninkompoops have also had multiple jabs, who are caring for patients that have had several jabs, and they somehow haven’t grasped the complete irony in this farcical set-up? Maybe they should just write on their muzzle “I’ve had my vaccines but I’m wearing this just in case.” How could a medical professional fail to instill confidence doing that?
You realise that it is their wet-dream to have people mask wearing every winter and lining up for mandatory influenza vaccination?
Just use an exercise in logic for the NHS (not)
Masks are effective
therefore
when someone tests positive but does not feel ill they should be able to come in and perform their clinical duties as the mask will stop their patient getting covid.
If that is believed in an NHS setting then that is the policy that should be adopted.
Clearly that logic is not believed as clinical testing positive for covid cannot work until clear.
A little anecdotal story, which I had the joy of experiencing yesterday…
After getting my ban for “not being compliant” lifted, I again made my way down to the local place of worship they now call The Dentist.
On arrival I found the door locked and a sign on the door stating that patients must knock on the window to gain entry. A brief, but jovial, knock on the window resulted in a wait of several minutes before the door slowly creaked open. I turned to find one of the apostles standing in front of the door, adorned with full face mask and, wait for it…. a bottle of hand sanitiser. Standing there like a self-appointed Guardian of all that is Covid sacred, this woman then intimated that I must receive a pump of her magic potion before gaining entrance. I declined. She was more than a little perturbed but continued to tell me that I must stand on the yellow cross in front of the reception desk. I pointed out the position of the yellow cross would not save her from the imminent death I would surely inflict on her with my good health. Not amused, she stubbornly pointed at the yellow cross. Not amused, I ignored her. A tense 10 second stand off ensued. With the look of complete and absolute hatred in this woman’s eyes, she then told me I was not to touch a single thing whilst I was in the building; then, with a cheerful click of her heels, moved to her place of sanctuary – her seat behind the plastic sheet protected reception desk. She then gave me a pen. “Sign this” she angrily demanded. “I can’t” I replied. “Why?” – her colour was now actually starting to change (a kind of flushed but utterly demonic red). “Because I’m not allowed to touch anything”. If looks could kill, honestly. Apparently, however, I was allowed to touch the pen – the pen holding some mystical power that only Him himself could possibly explain. After signing the consent form – I really should have checked what I was consenting to, it could easily have been a Covid anal probe – I was permitted to leave the reception area and instructed to go up the stairs. “Great”, I thought, “Free”. But before I could make my way up those Godly steps I was stopped by another masked Guardian. “No”, she said, “you’re using the wrong steps”. My quizzical look allowed her to cheerfully explain – “these steps are for going down, those are the steps for going up. You know, so you don’t cross anyone on the stairs”. Covid apparently. Or mass hysteria. Or creepy, dangerous, authoritarian tw*ts having a chance to come slithering out of the woodwork. Honestly, I’m not sure. What I am sure about is this world has few genuinely decent people in it. I’ll be a long time dead. It couldn’t come sooner tbh. In the meantime I definitely need to find another dentist.
And yet hospitals and dentists are all normal over here. We can even sit on the settees again and no masks in sight. I think the effects of the Great British PsyOp were more far-reaching and damaging, and those millions of pounds spent on terrifying the public into submission and compliance was obviously money well spent. What a result!
I think I’d have been tempted to point and say to her, “The psychiatric hospital’s that way.” The fact these people exist now, let alone in winter time, is as astonishing as it is depressing.
It was a wee bit like that at the dentists I go to, soon after they reopened in 2020 – waited outside, measured my temperature and so on. I didn’t wear any junk though. The last time I was there about 6 months ago, it was quite normal. No-one else in the waiting room used any such thing (except the receptionist at the desk). I didn’t risk trying to pay in cash though – the fee was low enough to use their card reader without touching it!
I posted this late on Wednesday but it fits here very well.
Just a little story…
I had to go to the GP Surgery this morning. Duly directed upstairs. Through one door and there at the end of a corridor was a Dr in his room, at his desk, no patient. The doctor was sat there with a blue plastic nappy on his face. On his own. Unbelievable.
When I came downstairs from my appointment the doctor was there calling for his next patient- with his blue plastic mask glued to his face. FFS!
He was young too, about thirty. How can we have confidence in witch doctors like this?
An utter disgrace and clearly not fit to practice.
Are you in the UK? My dentist has no masks anywhere, and I had to visit a separate dentist yesterday and they were the same. No signs either, just the ubiquitous bottles of gunk around the place. Then this morning I had to pop into the gp surgery. Again, all signage has gone and the staff were maskless. I think you need to change your dentist!
Yep, Cambridgeshire. Two visits: one temp. ban, one waiting for next ban. It’s the moronic glee of these fools as they order you about that really just makes me want to throttle them. Literally. Maybe there’s something in this depopulation idea!
Nicely written. Thanks for sharing.
In an ideal universe, these people would be forced out of their jobs because their superstitious incompetence makes them a danger to everyone in their so-called care. This also relates to what huxleypiggles wrote: The so-called professional judgement of a doctor or nurse acting in this way may be less obviously nonsense in other area we weren’t forced to learn so much about on our own, but nonsense it’s guaranteed to be.
Totally different here in Thailand. Went to the dentist – had to take my shoes off first(this is a common request over here). Opened the door myself, sat down and waited.
The dental assistant came out of the consulting room – pulling her mask down as she did so. Got seen, masks worn whilst treatment given, then pulled down afterwards to talk to me.
Also made the appointment when I wanted to, given a choice of times. Booked the appointment 4 days in advance. For me the cost was half the UK NHS dentist.
And this is supposed to be a third-world country?
/
We’ve got a nurse on the pod next week who worked in general practise then in hospital buring and after the supposed pandemic. Should be interesting as she thinks masks are a total waste of time!
If you guys want to hear our latest podcast, then check it out and subscribe below:
Ep. 51 BANNED FROM TWITTER (Find out why)
We’ve been banned from Twitter for a week…find out why! Plus we talk Canada and Justin Trudeau, your first ‘Listener Rant’, Climate change madness, University PHD’s gone mad, Scotland’s gone crazy, The return of the Big Breakfast and MUCH MORE!
https://therealnormalpodcast.buzzsprout.com/1268768/11142910-ep-51-banned-from-twitter-find-out-why
I have two micro-biologist colleagues who work in the hospital labs and who have spent much of the last two years on the C1984. Their shorthand for masks – WFT’s.
Interesting! Would they ever be interested in appearing on the pod?
I could ask but in all other respects they are fully signed up as Covidiots. Believe it or not, despite being fully perforated they have both just had Covid – I kid you not.
And let’s not forget the dreaded Foegen Effect as well.
Masks were only ever intended to protect patients during surgical procedures from bacteria containing droplets in the exhaled breath of theatre staff, which could fall down into open wounds causing infection. There is some doubt these days how effective they are even at that.
They were never intended to protect the wearer and it has been recognised for many years that they are not an effective barrier against airborne viral infection, hence the more elaborate masks with filters used to treat virus infected patients.
Bacteria containing droplets are relatively large and fall due to gravity; virus are much smaller and are distributed as aerosols which cannot be contained or kept out by ordinary masks, and which circulate via Brownian motion in the air in enclosed spaces, staying airborne for hours, days even.
That doctors and nurses do not know this tells us how bad medical training is in general and infection control in particular.
I think your’e right about medical masks, although they can also be used to protect the wearer from hazardous substances, depending on the work being done. I think dentists use it for that reason, along with eye protection, and in certain industrial situations, like some building or carpentry tasks, some factory jobs and so on. But in those circumstances I’m not thinking about tiny compounds like viruses, just about larger things that can be trapped by the masks.
I agree with your last sentence, except that it may be that they do know it, but are afraid to say so at present.
I’m not sure the author is right. He is assuming that the ‘reasoning’ behind masks is that they protect people somehow. It’s been a while, but I can’t remember anyone standing up and telling us that we should wear them because they work… in fact, I distinctly remember Whitty, and WHO, standing up and saying not to bother, because they didn’t.
When he and his cronies about turned on that, nobody questioned it, such was the frenzy in the media demanding ‘something must be done’, they never even asked which sort of mask might be most effective but, instead went along with the ridiculous notion that all masks were equal, from a bandana across one’s nose to a hazmat suit, before finally settling on a ridiculous piece of paper which even says on its packaging that it doesn’t work.
I believe the true reason for imposing masks was that SAGE and their creepy, manipulative BIT colleagues needed a ‘tell’ that would reveal how many were accepting and following their propaganda… from the numbers who adopted them, it was most of the population up to and including the ‘scientists’ in GP surgeries and hospitals, who persist in using them to this day.
Edit: … though it has just occurred to me that perhaps the medical profession are aware that everyone’s immune system has been so compromised by the actions of lockdown, from self-isolation to ‘vaccination’, that anything at all might help and is worth trying?
You will do well to get a response from the Department of Health in N.I or the CMO or the PHA. I have been trying for two years. I presume they won’t answer because they don’t have an answer—after all when you ask for their evidence that masks work-what can they say? I also asked the same question of the 4 political parties here, which supported mask wearing-no response. Mind you I also got no response to questions about PCR cycle threshold, evidence supporting vaccine passports and risks to children.
NHS Executives, aka: political oinks! If they followed a political line in any area of medicine other than covid-9 masking and vaccines, and ignored evidence, there would be a huge outcry and backlash, and they wouldn’t last 5 minutes.
Just say you are exempt. Enough nonsense is more than enough from these fear mongering nhs idiots. Wish they put this much effort into whittling down waiting lists!