THE UK Government made key mistakes in preparing for the pandemic which undermined the ability of the NHS to cope with the crisis, according to a new report.

It said the mistakes left stockpiles short of vital supplies and capacity for personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and testing, and piled more pressure on the NHS.

Academics from Glasgow Caledonian University were part of the team that concludes the Government should hand over future planning for health emergencies to a new independent body.

Their findings are part of a new paper for the Journal of Risk Research, which also involved Cass Business School, in London, Nottingham University, and Vlerick Business School, in Belgium.

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The experts in risk management found the NHS’s resilience to the pandemic was compromised by an over-reliance on “lean production” and “just-in-time” continuity planning.

They argue the UK Government failed to act on systemic weaknesses highlighted through emergency exercises.

Co-author of the paper, Dr Patrick Ring, reader in Financial Services at GCU, said: “The risks employees are expected to face as they return to work are unprecedented and should never be repeated.

“It may now be time to consider whether national emergency preparedness, resilience and response should be given over to a public body with independent governance arrangements similar to those of the Bank of England. 

“This public body could be enshrined in law, with the NHS pandemic preparedness and resilience responsibilities falling under its umbrella.

“No matter how low the probabilities are, when the stakes are so high there can be no room for complacency, posturing, or political ideology.

“The most recent problems with PPE from Turkey illustrate the fragility of the Government’s reliance upon global supply chains and the importance of national preparedness.”