Covid-19 inquiry latest: Harrowing impact of pandemic on NHS and patients to be revealed in new report – UK Times

Former health secretary Matt Hancock told the inquiry that England’s hospitals were within hours of running out of some items of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the early months of the pandemic.

Mr Hancock also said he reluctantly approved of the decision to put non-urgent planned care on hold during the pandemic.

The Government prioritised hospital capacity for Covid-19 and emergency patients, and so suspended elective (non-urgent) treatment in spring 2020.

This led to growing waiting lists and meant thousands of people who needed care for non-Covid reasons had to wait or could not access treatment.

The former MP also defended the Stay Home, Save Lives, Protect the NHS messaging implemented during the pandemic.

The UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry is set to publish a report on Module 3 of its investigations, looking at how the NHS coped in the face of the spreading coronavirus pandemic.

Inquiry chairwoman Baroness Heather Hallett examined all aspects of the NHS during the crisis.

This included how managers led the pandemic response, the role of primary care and GPs, NHS backlogs and how the vaccine programme was integrated.