Give yourselves a clap

At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, there was a general feeling of fear and bewilderment. For several weeks, at eight o’clock each Thursday evening, the public stood at their doorsteps clapping their hands (or in some cases rattling saucepans) to show their appreciation for the efforts of frontline NHS staff. Many who were risking their lives on the frontline, in Accident and Emergency departments or in improvised intensive care wards, expressed a degree of cynicism. Many would have preferred adequate supplies of PPE (personal protective equipment).