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Significant flaws in the UK’s pandemic planning meant Covid caused more deaths and economic costs than it should have, the first report of the Covid Inquiry says.
The 217-page report called for radical reform of the systems in place, saying the UK government and devolved nations “failed their citizens”.
It said the UK planned for the wrong pandemic – a mild one where spread of a new virus was inevitable – and this led to the UK turning to the “untested” policy of lockdown.
The report said the UK approach was undermined by groupthink by scientists and too little challenge from ministers.
It is the first of at least nine reports covering everything from political decision-making to vaccines.
Inquiry chair Baroness Hallett said the UK was “ill-prepared for dealing with a catastrophic emergency, let alone the coronavirus pandemic”.
“Never again can a disease be allowed to lead to so many deaths and so much suffering,” she added.
Her report makes a series of recommendations, including:
- Taking responsibility for pandemic planning away from the Department of Health and Social Care, which leads for the UK
- Creating a ministerial-level body in each nation, chaired by the leader or deputy leader, with responsibility for all types of civil emergency that every department feeds into
- A new independent body to advise on civil emergencies and assess the state of preparation and resilience which includes both socio-economic and scientific expertise
- Three-yearly pandemic response exercises to stress-test plans in place
Baroness Hallett said she wants to see her recommendations acted on quickly, with many in place within six months or a year.