Health Secretary Matt Hancock is being called "disgusting" and disrespectful" for saying that four doctors "and some nurses" have died of the coronavirus.
Speaking on BBC Question Time, Hancock said:
We've seen very sadly four doctors die so far and some nurses.
His remark seems typical of the outdated belief that nurses are somehow of secondary importance to doctors.
The health secretary was immediately called out by Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing who was sitting beside him.
Hancock: 4 doctors have died, and some nurses. So disrespectful. This side eye from Dame Donna Kinnair is everythin… https://t.co/zHem7VHQ4Q— #HellomynameisCatherine 💙 (@#HellomynameisCatherine 💙) 1585866196
"They're not even counting the nurses, Matt. I've got to have a conversation with you about that" she said.
Mr Hancock claimed to have been unaware of this before moving swiftly on.
People aren't happy about his remarks.
Wow. “Four doctors and some nurses have died” - Matt Hancock SOME?!?!? SOME NURSES?? Are nurses not as important… https://t.co/5BXm51RHdg— Leonie Mahoney (@Leonie Mahoney) 1585856184
Matt Hancock “Four doctors have died and some nurses”. No one is counting the number of nurses that have died from… https://t.co/ws0epftbL7— Mark WPB (@Mark WPB) 1585898977
Excuse me: ‘and some nurses -‘ ? He really said that? https://t.co/jdnX1IUkA2— A C Grayling #FBPE 3.5% #Reform #Rejoin #FBPA 🐟 (@A C Grayling #FBPE 3.5% #Reform #Rejoin #FBPA 🐟) 1585863962
The lack of statistics on nurses's deaths during their fight against Covid-19 is truly shocking.
Matt Hancock on #bbcqt tonight....”4 doctors have died & some nurses”......some nurses 😡 are you kidding me....we’r… https://t.co/ok3ID0z0AG— Victoria Cuthill MSc RN 💙 (@Victoria Cuthill MSc RN 💙) 1585861038
The fact @MattHancock doesn't even realise that nurses who are sadly losing their lives to #Covid19 are not being r… https://t.co/6AdEFhOwme— Danielle RN 〓〓 #GTTO (@Danielle RN 〓〓 #GTTO) 1585856811
Dame Donna Kinnair pulling Matt Hancock up. Some nurse? 4 Drs and some nurses. The Nurses who have died are not bei… https://t.co/vVZCU5TaVh— Amanda Huxtable 🌍🇯🇲🇬🇧😷 (@Amanda Huxtable 🌍🇯🇲🇬🇧😷) 1585900529
Healthcare workers are risking their lives to keep us safe during the pandemic.
The least the government can do is keep a record of those who have sadly passed away.
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