Matt Hancock wanted to be the one to decide "who should live and who should die" if hospitals became overwhelmed by coronavirus patients, former NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens has told the Covid Inquiry.
Sir Simon’s witness statement said: “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.
“Fortunately this horrible dilemma never crystallised.”
Thursday is seeing evidence from key figures outside government, including former NHS chief executive Sir Simon, along with Professor Yvonne Doyle, former medical director at Public Health England.
Sir Christopher Wormald, permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care, is also giving evidence today.
In recent days, the inquiry has heard explosive testimony from some of the key figures in Downing Street during the early stages of the pandemic.
Figures including Helen MacNamara, Dominic Cummings have criticised then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock's handling of the situation from the inside.
