There’s nothing like going through a horrible illness and a couple of months in the hospital bed to get one thinking.

I feel that the Johnson government is still not really communicating with us. Had it been they wouldn’t split the nation by altering our slogan.

If they are not going to ask us, I think they’re missing a real opportunity as maybe the public have some ideas worth consideration. One simple way, anyone who thinks they may be able to help, is for them to write to the Watford Observer or their local newspaper with the idea and leave it up to our recently elected MPs see if anything is worth passing on to the appropriate department.

Needless to say, I have some.

• Re-opening. If a company wants to re-open, they should, fully involving the workforce, prepare a detailed plan of how this can be achieved keeping workers and customers safe.

• Wasted talent. I recently heard on the radio that 900 fully trained health and safety officers are sitting at home. Unless they are ill, we should recruit these experienced people and seek their advice on safety at home work, and in the community

• Hospitals. I must first thank the wonderful staff at West Herts hospital and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOP) who at least three times saved my life in the last two months. But I want to ask the Government to look at the use hospitals like world-class Stanmore as we like to call it are being used particularly should a further virus crisis occur. Understandably, when the crisis began, the Government had to free up places and cancel routine surgery. I understand the latter had been reinstated. Lots of coronavirus patients came to Stanmore blocking their important work. I’ve no idea how many are still here or if any more admissions or transfers are taking place but I’m wondering whether thought could be given to un-mothballing the Nightingale Hospital and using it as originally intended for coronavirus patients.

If you haven’t been a patient in one of the specialist teaching hospitals like RNOP, what you might not be aware of is the huge amount of brainpower that there is among the top consultants and professors here.

One final brief comment: I’m concerned about the rare Kawasaki-like disease which, has affected some children. I urge the Government immediately give this serious attention. There is no way children can or should be placed in any danger no matter what remedies cost.

John Horsfield

Valley Rise, Watford