Former NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens tells the Covid inquiry the "horrible dilemma never crystallised".
  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    2·
    8 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Former health secretary Matt Hancock wanted to decide “who should live and die” if the NHS was overwhelmed, the Covid inquiry has heard.

    The revelation came to light in evidence presented by Sir Simon Stevens, the former NHS England chief.

    In his witness statement, he said Mr Hancock thought he, not doctors or the public, should decide who to prioritise if hospitals became overwhelmed.

    He told the inquiry: “The secretary of state for health and social care took the position that in this situation he - rather than, say, the medical profession or the public - should ultimately decide who should live and who should die.”

    He added: "I certainly wanted to discourage the idea that an individual secretary of state, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, should be deciding how care would be provided.

    Sir Simon also rejected suggestions by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, made in his witness statement which has already been handed to the inquiry, that it was “very frustrating” to be forced into lockdown because the NHS and social care had failed to get to grip with the decades-old problem of delayed discharges.

    The original article contains 338 words, the summary contains 188 words. Saved 44%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!