Patients harmed as Covid pandemic brought NHS close to collapse, inquiry finds

"We coped, but only just. Collapse was only narrowly avoided thanks to the extraordinary efforts of all those working in health care. To cope with another pandemic there had to be greater capacity to scale-up hospital and ambulance services, according to the inquiry."

"The NHS struggled to cope with the surge in Covid patients, particularly in the first wave, with supplies of oxygen almost running out in places. Intensive care staffing ratios were diluted, going from one nurse to one patient to one to four at times. Waiting times for ambulances, even for the most life-threatening calls, grew with some services turning to the military to help."

"The report highlighted how there was a decline in attendances to A&E and other settings for non-Covid emergencies, including heart attacks, suggesting the slogan Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives inadvertently sent the message that people should avoid seeking help for other serious health conditions."

The Covid inquiry found the NHS was on the brink of collapse during the pandemic, with staff working in extreme conditions and patients unable to receive necessary care. Hospitals and ambulances struggled severely with COVID surges, particularly in the first wave. The inquiry criticized the NHS's weak state entering the pandemic and noted the "Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives" campaign may have inadvertently harmed patients by discouraging those with other health conditions from seeking help. Ambulance waiting times increased dramatically, oxygen supplies nearly depleted, intensive care staffing ratios were dangerously diluted, and cancer screening disruptions led to missed diagnoses. The inquiry chair stated collapse was narrowly avoided only through extraordinary healthcare worker efforts. Future pandemic preparedness requires greater capacity to scale hospital and ambulance services.

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