"A senior NHS leader broke down in tears as he described scenes "from hell" on intensive care wards, with staff running out of body bags and sick patients "raining from the sky". Professor Kevin Fong, former national clinical adviser in emergency preparedness, resilience and response at NHS England, told the inquiry that the scale of death on intensive care units was "truly astounding"."
"Former chief nursing officer for England Dame Ruth May described how the NHS in England went into the pandemic with 40,000 fewer nurses than it needed. Ex-health secretary Matt Hancock told the inquiry that in the early months, hospitals were within hours of running out of some items of personal protective equipment."
The UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry is publishing findings on how Britain's healthcare system managed the coronavirus pandemic. Senior NHS leaders provided powerful testimony in 2024, describing devastating conditions on intensive care wards. A former NHS clinical adviser stated the scale of death was "truly astounding," while a senior NHS leader broke down describing scenes "from hell" with staff running out of body bags and patients overwhelming facilities. The former chief nursing officer revealed England's NHS entered the pandemic with 40,000 fewer nurses than required. The former health secretary reported hospitals faced critical shortages of personal protective equipment in early months, coming within hours of running out of essential items.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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