Matt Hancock wanted to decide ‘who should live and who should die’ – former NHS boss
Matt Hancock wanted to decide “who should live and who should die” if hospitals became overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, the former NHS England boss has claimed.
Lord Simon Stevens, who led NHS England until 2021, largely refused to criticise the former health secretary during his appearance before the Covid-19 inquiry on Tuesday.
That is in contrast to other figures who appeared before Baroness Heather Hallett’s probe this week, including former top Number 10 adviser Dominic Cummings and ex-civil servant Helen MacNamara.
In his witness statement to the inquiry, the peer said: “The secretary of state for health and social care took the position that in this situation he – rather than, say, the medical profession or the public – should ultimately decide who should live and who should die.
“Fortunately, this horrible dilemma never crystallised.”
Giving oral evidence to the inquiry, he added: “I certainly wanted to discourage the idea that an individual secretary of state, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, should be deciding how care would be provided.
“I felt that we are well served by the medical profession, in consultation with patients to the greatest extent possible, in making those kinds of decisions.”
WhatsApp messages
A series of WhatsApp messages shared with the inquiry have revealed that Mr Cummings repeatedly pushed Boris Johnson to sack Mr Hancock, who now sits as an independent MP following his appearance on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… reality show.
At one stage, Mr Cummings claimed Mr Hancock had “lied his way through this and killed people and dozens and dozens of people have seen it”.
Ms MacNamara, who served as deputy cabinet secretary, also claimed in her evidence that Mr Hancock displayed “nuclear levels” of overconfidence and a pattern of reassuring colleagues the pandemic was being dealt with in ways that were not true.
Lord Stevens mostly declined to join in the criticism of Mr Hancock.
“There were occasional moments of tension and flashpoints, which are probably inevitable during the course of a 15-month pandemic but I was brought up always to look to the best in people.”
Under questioning from inquiry counsel Andrew O’Connor he said that “for the most part, yes” he could trust Mr Hancock.
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The last thing I heard about this guy is that he may be heading for a career in broadcasting. The only place he would fit is on the usual suspect Tory propaganda channels and I would be grateful to know they THAT is where he would land. At least then we’d know that all the lies are contained in just two places rather than having to engage in herding cats trying to keep track of them elsewhere.
Matt Hancock will be squirming and planning his responses to what he thinks is going to be asked when he gives evidence at the end of the month at the Covid Inquiry.
He’ll smile when he gives his answer. His attempts to be charming are recognised as self-promotion.
I doubt he can keep up the act.
He would have stood there, serious face “we are following the science” then “all over 70’s in Soandso hospital, must be removed from care to make room for the younger ones”. “tough luck granny/grandad/sister/brother/mum/dad we know best”.
He would have done that?!
ARTD still supporting Brexit? Cos this is the cost that blagger prefers.
How would he do that? I can’t believe he would bother taking the time to actually sign all those death warrants himself.