Covid inquiry examines healthcare impact in the UK, starting Monday

The Covid inquiry in the UK is set to begin a series of hearings focused on the pandemic's impact on healthcare, starting Monday. Over a million hospital admissions related to Covid have occurred since 2020, with many patients experiencing disrupted care for other conditions due to the NHS's overwhelming challenges. Healthcare workers, like community midwife Mandi Masters, have shared their harrowing experiences, highlighting the fear and uncertainty faced during the early stages of the pandemic. The inquiry will explore various aspects, including patient treatment, the use of PPE, and the effects on NHS staffing and waiting lists. It aims to address the significant delays in care and the long-term consequences for patients, such as Lynda Ross, who suffered from a cancelled spinal surgery. The inquiry has faced criticism for not adequately including the voices of bereaved families, with only a fraction of their proposed witnesses being called. However, it has allowed public contributions through its Every Story Matters project, gathering over 30,000 testimonies from healthcare workers and families. The inquiry's chair, Baroness Hallett, has already examined pandemic planning and political decisions, with future sessions planned to cover vaccine distribution, the care sector, and the economic impact of the pandemic.