Government messaging urging the public to “stay at home” during the Covid pandemic deterred people from accessing vital healthcare – even in the event of life-threatening emergencies such as heart attacks, an inquiry has concluded.
The “stay home, protect the NHS, save lives” message, which was created by Cabinet Office officials without input from health leaders and pushed relentlessly by ministers, “sent the message that healthcare was closed”, according to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
