LESSONS MUST BE LEARNED TO SAVE LIVES

Plea for answers as report is published

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

THE UK governments' preparations for a global pandemic are expected to come under fire today as the UK Covid Inquiry publishes its first report.

Inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett will report on how well the UK was able to face a deadly outbreak in the run-up to 2020 when Covid-19 hit Britain.

The report is expected to highlight the UK's focus on preparing for a flu pandemic instead of a coronavirus pandemic during its first module into resilience and preparedness.

During evidence-gathering sessions for the first module, however, Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon said in her view "the systems, processes and structures for pandemic preparedness in Scotland operated effectively".

But she conceded: "That said, it is important lessons are learned." Lady Hallett may highlight in her report how austerity measures led to public health cut backs and a government focused on Brexit.