The UK’s pandemic planning failures and weaknesses are expected to be revealed in the first report from the Covid inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallett. This highly anticipated report will be released at lunchtime and will address the state of the healthcare system, stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the planning in place before the pandemic struck.
This report marks the first of at least nine that will cover a wide range of topics, including political decision-making, vaccine distribution, and the impact on children.
Testimonies from Politicians and Experts
During the hearings for this module last year, 69 experts and politicians, including former Prime Minister David Cameron and former Health Secretaries Jeremy Hunt and Matt Hancock, gave evidence.
The inquiry learned that much of the UK’s pandemic preparations had been based on planning for a flu outbreak, which led to an over-reliance on vaccines and antivirals that were ineffective against Covid. This approach also accepted that only limited measures could be taken to curb the spread of a novel virus.
Mr. Hunt criticized the UK’s response, suggesting that the government should have learned from countries like Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea, which had dealt with earlier outbreaks of other coronaviruses, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). These countries implemented effective test, trace, and quarantine systems along with border controls, which helped reduce deaths and minimize lockdowns.
Ignoring Previous Warnings
One of the issues likely to be highlighted in Baroness Hallett’s report is why the government failed to act on the recommendations from Exercise Alice, a 2016 civil service simulation of a major MERS outbreak. The inquiry also addressed concerns over the impact of austerity on the NHS.
Former Chief Medical Officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, was highly critical of the state of the NHS, pointing out that it had fewer doctors, nurses, beds, and ventilators compared to similar countries. Epidemiology professor Sir Michael Marmot also noted that the UK entered the pandemic with “depleted” public services, making it less able to respond effectively.
Austerity and Brexit Debates
Some witnesses linked austerity to the underpreparedness of the healthcare system. However, former Chancellor George Osborne defended austerity measures, arguing that they allowed the UK to maintain financial resources to handle the pandemic.
Brexit also played a role in the inquiry, with some workstreams on pandemic planning being paused or delayed due to no-deal Brexit preparations. Former Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, however, suggested that Brexit planning had increased staff collaboration and coordination. Matt Hancock also claimed that Brexit-related work had secured medical supply chains, preventing hospitals from running out of crucial drugs.
Calls for Future Preparedness
Prof. Adam Kucharski, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, emphasized that preparedness is essential, stating that the findings from the report should prompt immediate action. “We’re going to face more pandemic threats in the future,” he said. “We need to ask ourselves, ‘If there’s a pandemic next year, what would a good response look like, and what do we need to put in place now to ensure that response is feasible?’”
Healthcare Workers’ Struggles
Dr. Saleyha Ahsan, an army medic who worked in hospitals during the first two Covid waves, and a member of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, expressed frustration over the lack of proper planning. She described how doctors struggled to access adequate PPE, with rapidly changing rules and the use of flimsy protective gear, such as basic surgical masks and aprons.
Reflecting on the difficulties healthcare workers faced, Dr. Ahsan said, “It felt like we were making do, and those at the frontlines were the healthcare workers.”
For many who experienced the chaos of the pandemic firsthand, including those who lost loved ones, it’s crucial to understand where things went wrong and who was responsible.