Lessons not learned from pandemic exercise ‘crisis’ in 2016

LEADING Communists have accused the Welsh Government of failing to learn crucial lessons from a pandemic simulation exercise that was organised three and a half years ago.

The cross-government Exercise Cygnus concluded that that the NHS would be plunged into an enormous crisis by the outbreak of a highly infectious and deadly strain of influenza.

This wide-ranging exercise highlighted the severe shortages of intensive care beds, vital equipment and even mortuary space that would occur in the event of a real-life public health emergency.

Trevor Jones, secretary of the Welsh Communist Party, said: “Welsh Labour and British Tory ministers neglected to act on the cross-government UK pandemic drill, Exercise Cygnus, which took place in October 2016 and accurately concluded that the NHS would be plunged into an enormous crisis by the outbreak of a highly infectious and deadly strain of influenza. This wide-ranging exercise highlighted the severe shortages of intensive care beds, vital equipment and even mortuary space that would occur in the event of a real-life public health emergency.

“The British government refuses to release the full report of Exercise Cygnus – but has the Welsh government challenged this? If not, why not?

“Why doesn’t the Welsh Government, which is responsible for healthcare in Wales, publish the report itself?”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We took part in Exercise Cygnus, following which the UK Government established a UK review of pandemic preparedness. This has influenced our response to this outbreak.

“We have issued more than five million extra pieces of PPE to frontline health and social care workers from our pandemic stocks to date – over and above that available from normal stocks held by the NHS – and are working with industry in Wales to produce more. Health and social care workers are being tested for coronavirus.

“An agreement has been reached from today to use the full capacity of all six private hospitals in Wales for the next four months and further if needed to support the NHS in addition to the plans to create temporary field hospitals.”

Last week the Department of Health in England said it had learned lessons from Exercise Cygnus, but would not agree to publishing the document or say what the lessons were.