Read on Twitter
1/ Super interesting new info coming out on Exercise Cygnus, the 2016 dry run for a UK outbreak, since its formal publication was forced least week. Raises some important questions on current response... #COVID19
2/ First the sexy bit. Jeremy Hunt, then health minister, "stopped playing" on first day of exercise after being asked to turn off the ventilators of 4,000 people. He says it was 'morally repugnant' and prompted a rethink on triage. Not all agree... https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/jeremy-hunt-downed-tools-refused-play-asked-turn-ventilators/
3/ “The hospitals were full and Hunt was asked to make the call as part of the exercise. But instead of doing so he basically said ‘I’m not playing anymore’. People were very cross as it mucked up the exercise”, said one source.
4/ Hunt sees it differently: “In the exercise, Jeremy was asked to make a decision switch off all the life support machines in the country leading to an immediate 4,000 deaths. He believed that was morally repugnant so paused the exercise to explain ....
4/ "that if ministers were being asked to make such decisions we were clearly not dealing with the issue in a sensible way. The result of Jeremy's intervention was extensive and important rethinking about how we avoid getting into such a situation... during the current pandemic”
5/ But what was actually done after Cygnus. The report orders the CMOs of four nations to come up with proper triage protocol, including a "proposal for who would make the decision to move to population-based triage and in what circumstances”. Was this ever done?
6/The only triage protocol I know was produced in a bit of rush by NICE and published on March 21. It sifted on frailty and age. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/revealed-official-guidance-doctors-decide-coronavirus-patients/
7/Cygnus made other recommendations. An analysis of NHS surge capacity; a calculation of lives saved/lost by closing hospitals to regular business; a "rapid discharge protocol" for placing hospital patients into nursing homes SAFLEY to mention a few. Where is it all???
8/ Not all Cygnus chores were laid at the door of the NHS. The Department of Education was asked to “examine the impact of school closures on society", for instance, and create backup plans. Did it do it? I don't think so. It didn't even fill in its evaluation of the exercise...
9/ Full analysis here which is free to read: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/six-crucial-pandemic-lessons-government-ignored/
10/ Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health sec, to raise formally: “We know ministers were slow to respond ....
There are serious questions as to what they learned from Cygnus and whether they implemented its recommendations. I will be raising this in the Commons when we return”.
There are serious questions as to what they learned from Cygnus and whether they implemented its recommendations. I will be raising this in the Commons when we return”.
