Shocking revelations from the official Covid-19 inquiry have exposed that Matt Hancock was sounding alarm bells about overwhelming NHS pressures weeks before the UK entered its first national lockdown.
The Secret Warning That Never Reached the Public
According to newly uncovered evidence, the former Health Secretary described the situation facing hospitals as "frightening" in a private message to the government's former Test and Trace chief, Baroness Dido Harding. This crucial warning came a full three weeks before Boris Johnson announced the first national lockdown on March 23, 2020.
A Race Against Time
The inquiry heard how Hancock expressed grave concerns about the NHS's ability to cope with the escalating crisis. In his message to Harding, he emphasised the urgent need to "bring in the army" and ramp up testing capacity to prevent the healthcare system from being completely overwhelmed.
Public Perception vs Private Reality
While government ministers were publicly maintaining a stance of cautious optimism during this period, these private communications reveal a much more alarming picture behind closed doors. The timing of these warnings raises serious questions about whether the public received transparent information about the true scale of the threat facing the country.
What the Inquiry Means for Future Pandemic Response
This evidence forms part of the ongoing UK Covid-19 Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, which is examining the country's preparedness and response to the pandemic. The revelation about Hancock's early concerns adds weight to arguments that the government may have waited too long to implement crucial restrictions.
The inquiry continues to hear evidence from key figures involved in the pandemic response, with further revelations expected about the decision-making processes that shaped Britain's battle against coronavirus.
