Former health secretary Matt Hancock wanted to decide “who should live and die” if the NHS was overwhelmed, the Covid inquiry has heard.
The revelation came to light in evidence presented by Sir Simon Stevens, the former NHS England chief.
In his witness statement, he said Mr Hancock thought he, not doctors or the public, should decide who to prioritise if hospitals became overwhelmed.
Sir Simon said: “Fortunately this horrible dilemma never crystallised.”
He told the inquiry: “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.”
He added: “I certainly wanted to discourage the idea that an individual secretary of state, other than in the most exceptional circumstances, should be deciding how care would be provided.
“I felt we were well-served by the medical profession, in consultation with patients to the greatest extent possible, in making those decisions.”
Hellbound and Down 