Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Wednesday, September 27
    Trending
    • Everything to know about Times Square 
    • What is the Nations League? Uefa Women’s Nations League Explained
    • UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures for Tuesday 26th September 2023 
    • 2023 Nations League: England vs Netherlands – kick-off, team news, how to live stream
    • Russia seeks to rejoin UN’s human rights council
    • New iPhone 15 fails bend test as YouTuber breaks it with bare hands
    • Hamleys reveals its top 10 toys for Christmas — and it’s another win for Barbie
    • Luxury restaurant The Ivy launches loyalty scheme
    Login
    WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    WTX News
    Home » Blog – Latest News Today
    Covid-19

    UK was ‘hugely underprepared for Covid due to years of austerity’

    UK NewsBy UK NewsJune 4, 2023Updated:June 4, 20233 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    UK was ‘hugely underprepared for Covid due to years of austerity’
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    A report from the Federation of Trade Unions has highlighted the issues (Picture: Getty/PA)

    The UK was hugely unprepared for the pandemic because of years of austerity, according to a new report.

    The TUC said funding cuts reduced the capacity to respond to the crisis, which left health and social care ‘dangerously understaffed.’

    Safe staffing levels in health and social care were undermined by multiple years of pay caps and pay freezes, which impeded recruitment and increased staff turnover, the report said.

    Public services capacity was damaged by ‘steep cuts’ to almost every part of the public sector, it added.

    In 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began, spending per capita was lower than in 2010 in social care, transport, housing, childcare, schools, higher education, police, fire services, and environmental protection, according to the TUC, the federation of trade unions.

    It claimed this limited the ability of public services to contribute effectively to civil contingencies and to continue essential activities effectively, such as children’s education.

    The report added that during the pandemic, when workplace risks multiplied, workplace inspections and enforcement notices fell to an all-time low.

    Funding cuts left health and social care ‘dangerously understaffed'(Picture: Getty)

    ‘Austerity cost the nation dearly’ during the Covid-19 pandemic it is claimed (Picture: AFP)

    Funding for the Health and Safety Executive was 43% lower in 2021/22 than in 2009/10 in real terms, with staff numbers cut, it claimed.

    TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: ‘To learn lessons and save future lives, we must take an unflinching look at the choices made by our leaders in the years before the pandemic.

    ‘In the NHS and social care, funding cuts put staff levels in the danger zone.

    ‘Cuts to social security pushed many more people below the poverty line, leaving them more vulnerable to infection, and cuts to health and safety left workers exposed to rogue employers who cut corners and put their lives at risk.

    Millions of people died during the pandemic as Covid-19 spread across the world (Picture: Getty)

    ‘Austerity cost the nation dearly. It left us hugely unprepared for the pandemic, and it left far too many workers unprotected. The consequences were painful and tragic.

    ‘The inquiry is our chance to learn the lessons – and to understand why we have to rebuild our public services so that they are strong enough to protect us in a future crisis.’

    The report was published ahead of a joint press conference with the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group on Monday about the lessons they believe must be learned through the UK Covid-19 Inquiry

    For more stories like this from the UK, check our news page.

    Safe staffing levels in health and social care were undermined by multiple years of pay caps and pay freezes, which impeded recruitment and increased staff turnover, the report said. 

    Covid UK COVID-19 featured Trade Unions UK featured UK politics
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    UK News

    Related Posts

    Everything to know about Times Square 

    Everything to know about Times Square 

    September 27, 2023
    What is the Nations League? Uefa Women’s Nations League Explained

    What is the Nations League? Uefa Women’s Nations League Explained

    September 26, 2023
    UEFA Women's Nations League fixtures for Tuesday 26th September 2023 

    UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures for Tuesday 26th September 2023 

    September 26, 2023

    Leave A Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    Contact Form Demo

    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    Recent Posts
    • Everything to know about Times Square 
    • What is the Nations League? Uefa Women’s Nations League Explained
    • UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures for Tuesday 26th September 2023 
    • 2023 Nations League: England vs Netherlands – kick-off, team news, how to live stream
    • Russia seeks to rejoin UN’s human rights council
    wtx news brings you the latest news, a UK news briefing, Sports analysis, and premier league news with a special round-up of Business and crypto updates
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World
    • US Politics
    • EU Politics
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Community
    • Join the revolution
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • Newsletters
    • Work With Us

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest news from WTX News about News, Lifestyle, and business.

    Contact Form Demo

    Copyright WTX News 2023

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Sign In or Register

    Welcome Back!

    Login below or Register Now.

    Lost password?

    Register Now!

    Already registered? Login.

    A password will be e-mailed to you.