Simon Opher speaks about Covid inquiry report

On Sunday former health secretary Jeremy Hunt apologised for failures in the UK’s pandemic preparations highlighted by the Covid inquiry.

In its first report, published on Thursday, the inquiry found the former government had “failed” the public due to “significant flaws” in preparing for a pandemic.

On Sunday, Mr Hunt acknowledged that as health secretary between 2012 and 2018, he had been “part of a groupthink where we over-prepared for pandemic flu, we didn’t think about other types of pandemic”.

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said: “I apologise unreservedly to the families. That was the most terrible tragedy what happened to this country during Covid.”

He also urged the new Government to take up the recommendations of Baroness Heather Hallett’s 217-page report.

The report said the inquiry had “no hesitation” in concluding the “processes, planning and policy of the civil contingencies structures within the UK government and devolved administrations and civil services failed their citizens”.

Stroud MP, GP Dr Simon Opher, who led the Covid vaccination programme in Stroud said: "The huge frustration is that Exercise Cygnus tested the NHS' readiness to respond to a pandemic in 2016 and made really clear recommendations.

"But these were disregarded by the government of the day, and under the leadership of Jeremy Hunt, the NHS continued to be underfunded and left to wither. 

"It's a tribute to my NHS colleagues across the country that they responded so well and that more lives weren't lost.

"People will remember images of front line staff wearing bin bags for protection because PPE stocks recommended under Cygnus had been run down.

"So I support these recommendations, and I say this.

"Never should we allow political ideology to put our nation's health at such risk again.

"The health, safety and wellbeing of our families, friends, colleagues and neighbours is a non-negotiable to be protected at all costs."