Matt Hancock wanted to decide “who should live and who should die” if hospitals were overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, a former NHS England chief executive told the Covid inquiry.
Lord Simon Stevens’ witness statement 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 crystallized.”
In his oral evidence at the inquiry, Lord Stevens added: “I certainly wanted to discourage the idea that an individual Secretary of State, except in the most exceptional circumstances, should decide how care would be provided.”
“I felt that the medical profession serves us well, consulting with patients to the greatest extent possible, to make those types of decisions.”
Lord Simon Stevens’ witness statement 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.”
