The Inquiry has published its third report and recommendations following its investigation into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK's healthcare systems.

The UK entered the pandemic with dangerously weak healthcare system resilience—too few staff, too few beds, ageing infrastructure, and inadequate planning. As a result, the NHS and devolved systems were pushed to the brink of collapse multiple times, with severe consequences for patients, families, and healthcare workers.

The Inquiry concludes that future pandemics could overwhelm the system unless urgent reforms are implemented.

Read about this and more in our weekly newsletter for 25 March 2026