Covid inquiry: patients “rained from the sky”

Working during the pandemic was like dealing with “a terrorist attack every day”, the UK Covid Inquiry has heard. Professor Kevin Fong, who advised the NHS on emergency preparedness, visited more than 40 intensive care units during the pandemic to support staff and report back on frontline services.

Fighting back tears as he gave evidence, Fong told the inquiry he saw a “scale of death” beyond his experience of the 1999 Soho bombing and 7/7 London terror attacks. He said nurses felt like patients were “raining from the sky”, and were forced to use 9 ft clear plastic sacks and cable ties after they ran out of body bags.

Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, later told the inquiry it was a “political choice” for the UK to have very low ICU capacity compared to other high-income countries.

This part of the inquiry, examining the impact of Covid on healthcare systems, will hear evidence until the end of November.