Covid inquiry to reveal “harrowing” impact on NHS and patient
Bereaved families warn health service still unprepared ahead of latest findings
The devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on NHS staff and patients is set to be laid bare as the latest findings from the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry are published.
The report will examine how the healthcare system coped under unprecedented pressure, including staff shortages, overwhelmed hospitals and disrupted care for non-Covid patients.
Matthew Fowler, from the West Midlands, co-founder and chair of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, told BBC Radio the pandemic had a lasting and deeply personal impact on thousands of families.
His father died after contracting Covid-19 in March 2020 “I didn’t really think I’d be losing my dad in my early 30s,” Matthew said. “There’s no amount of money that I would give to have my dad back. You can’t put a price on lives.”
He described how families were unable to be with loved ones in hospital during the pandemic, calling it one of the most painful aspects of their experience.
“People felt abandoned,” he said. “They went through this sudden tragedy and were left to fend for themselves, with very little support.”
Matthew said while the inquiry has uncovered important evidence, he believes more must be done to ensure meaningful change.
“Making good points is one thing,” he said. “But making recommendations that actually fix the problems is another.”
He warned the NHS remains vulnerable to future crises, arguing that longstanding issues such as staff shortages and limited capacity have not been fully addressed.
“We haven’t fixed the problems we had before 2020,” he said. “The NHS is still not ready for the next crisis.”
The inquiry has previously heard emotional testimony from healthcare leaders, including descriptions of intensive care units under extreme strain and hospitals close to collapse.
Bereaved families say the latest report must be a turning point.
Matthew added: “The cost of fixing the system is nothing compared to the cost of failing to act. Ultimately, it’s about protecting lives in the future.”
The findings come as the government also considers strengthening patients’ rights to visits in hospitals and care homes, following widespread concerns about people being separated from loved ones during the pandemic.