In a recent public inquiry into Covid-19, England’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Sir Chris Whitty, underscored the urgent need for increased intensive care capacity in the UK, arguing that the current low levels are a “political choice.” He voiced concerns about the inevitability of future pandemics, possibly on the scale of Covid, which has led to the loss of 7 million lives globally.
Reflecting on the UK’s response to the pandemic in 2020, Whitty characterized the situation for the NHS as “absolutely catastrophic.” He acknowledged the importance of lockdown measures in alleviating the crisis but emphasized the need for the UK to brace itself for future pandemics. “We have to assume that something on this scale will occur again,” he asserted. Furthermore, he cautioned that ignoring the possibility of asymptomatic transmission of deadly viruses would be “foolish.”
The inquiry also highlighted the emotional challenges faced by NHS workers. Dr. Kevin Fong, a former clinical adviser, became visibly emotional as he shared his experiences treating patients during the pandemic, likening it to responding to a “terrorist attack every day.” He discussed the intense pressure on staff, including instances where some hospitals resorted to placing bodies in refuse sacks due to a shortage of proper bags, only to reuse beds immediately for new patients.
Whitty contended that boosting the NHS’s intensive care unit capacity is essential for future preparedness. “The UK has a very low ICU capacity compared to most high-income nations,” he remarked, stressing that this situation arises from a conscious choice in system configuration. He added, “You have less reserve when a major emergency occurs, even if it’s not on the scale of Covid.”
Moreover, he highlighted the critical need to address the NHS workforce crisis, stating, “Healthcare systems cannot be ‘scaled up’ in a future pandemic without trained personnel.” He explained that while resources like beds and equipment can be quickly secured, the real limitation lies in having enough experienced healthcare professionals, which cannot be resolved quickly.
Among his recommendations, Whitty urged for enhanced scientific research capabilities and a serious commitment to addressing health inequalities. He argued that without proactive steps to tackle these disparities between pandemics, achieving significant improvements during an outbreak would be unlikely.
Whitty also emphasized the role of scientific innovation, particularly in vaccine development and treatments. He insisted that, at the onset of a pandemic, it’s typically science that offers solutions, while other measures are merely aimed at maintaining stability until scientific breakthroughs occur.
He expressed concern over the indirect impacts of Covid, noting the rise in mortality rates from various diseases due to the overwhelmed healthcare system. Additionally, he acknowledged the previous confusion surrounding mask guidelines for NHS staff and communication failures that discouraged public visits to hospitals for non-Covid-related health issues. He reflected on the difficulty of maintaining the right balance in messaging during the early phases of the pandemic, admitting, “I still worry whether we got the level of concern right.”
In response to the testimony, the group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, which represents thousands of affected families, stated that the heartbreaking scenes portrayed during the inquiry were preventable and should never happen again.
