Claim that NHS coped during pandemic false, inquiry hears

Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock have been criticised by bereaved families at the Covid inquiry for trying to mislead the public by "brazenly" claiming "things went reasonably well" in the NHS.

- Daniel Boffey

On the opening day of 10 weeks of evidence about the impact of the pandemic on the health service, Pete Weatherby KC, representing the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, said claims that the NHS had coped were "false".

The inquiry chair, Heather Hallett, heard yesterday that the NHS had entered the pandemic with far fewer intensive care-equipped beds than many developed countries and that there had been high levels of nursing vacancies.

Figures provided by the Intensive Care Society indicate the UK had just 7.3 critical care beds per 100,000 people, while Germany had 28.2 beds per 100,000 and the Czech Republic had 43.2 critical care beds per 100,000.