Additionally, there was insufficient focus on the necessary measures to deal with a rapidly transmissible disease and inadequate efforts to establish a system for testing, tracing, and isolating infected patients.In her 217-page report, Hallett emphasized the need for the UK to be better prepared for the next pandemic, which could potentially be even more deadly. She warned, "The UK will again face a pandemic that, unless we are better prepared, will bring with it immense suffering and huge financial cost and the most vulnerable in society will suffer the most. "Hallett recommended the development and testing of a new pandemic strategy every three years, with government and political leaders being held accountable for having preparedness and resilience systems in place. She also advocated for the involvement of outside experts to prevent the known problem of groupthink. "Unless the lessons are learned, and fundamental change is implemented, that effort and cost will have been in vain when it comes to the next pandemic.

Source: The Times July 18, 2024 23:09 UTC