Overview

• The NHS's request for 10,000 permanent hospital beds in July 2020 was denied by the Treasury and No. 10, aiming to cope with the first wave's aftermath and future surges.
• NHS England Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard expressed disappointment, stating that the additional capacity could have significantly reduced the backlog of pre-planned care.
• As of August 2024, the NHS has a record backlog of 7.64 million treatments, highlighting the long-term impact of the decision.
• The inquiry revealed that the UK's hospital bed capacity was lower than many comparable countries at the pandemic's onset.
• Temporary Nightingale hospitals, costing over £358 million, were underutilized, raising questions about resource allocation during the crisis.