PM urged to hold inquiry into pandemic after nurse inquest

A CORONER has called on the Prime Minister to press ahead with a public inquiry into the pandemic “as soon as practicable” after concluding that it is unclear how a heavily pregnant nurse contracted coronavirus.

Coroner Emma Whitting delivered a narrative conclusion at the inquest into the death of Sister Mary Agyapong, 28, who died last year at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital where she worked, five days after giving birth to her second child.

She spent the last week of her life with coronavirus, a diagnosis initially dismissed by medics at the hospital where she worked, despite collapsing at home and suffering acute breathing difficulties.

In closing the inquest at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner’s Court, the coroner said: “I would like to express my own condolences to Mary’s family.

“Whilst Mary’s untimely death is first and foremost a tragedy for you her husband, for her children, and all her relations, colleagues and friends, it is for society too. As a society, it is important that we learn from all of the lives that have been lost as a result of this terrible pandemic and to consider the wider policy implications that may arise from each and every one of these.

“Since this is a process which goes far beyond a coroner’s inquest and the Prime Minister has indicated his intention to hold a full public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic, I urge him to proceed with this as soon as practicable.”

Earlier this month, Mr Johnson said he remains committed to an inquiry in the future, but that holding one now would be an “irresponsible diversion” as officials need to concentrate their “energies” on combatting the pandemic.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has demanded a “full public inquiry” into the handling of the pandemic “as soon as restrictions lift” in order to “get to the bottom of the many mistakes made” during the outbreak.

The inquest began last week on the day the nation marked a national day of reflection for those who had died in the pandemic.

Stating that Ms Agyapong died of organ failure and Covid-19, the coroner said: “The deceased died after contracting Covid-19 but it remains unclear where and when her exposure to the virus had occurred.”

Ms Agyapong was admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties on April 5, but was discharged and was readmitted two days later with coronavirus symptoms.

Surgeons safely delivered the baby, also named Mary, by Caesarean section before Ms Agyapong was transferred to the intensive care unit on April 8.

Her condition worsened and in the early hours of April 12 she was diagnosed with a cytokine storm, an extreme reaction by the immune system to any infection, which is a common complication of Covid-19.

The coroner said: “Despite all efforts to treat her, she suffered a cardiac arrest later .. and her death was confirmed.”

This is a process which goes far beyond a coroner’s inquest Coroner Emma Whitting at Bedfordshire and Luton Coroner’s Court