Fury as it is revealed over 80s were not given potentially life-saving treatment during first wave

Elderly coronavirus patients were denied intensive care treatment on the NHS during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been claimed.

Over 80s were not given potentially life-saving treatment because health chiefs were concerned the NHS would be overrun, according to reports.

It has also been claimed documents called a ‘triage tool’, drawn up at the request of England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty, were used to prevent elderly Covid-19 patients from receiving ventilation in intensive care.

As part of an investigation, the Sunday Times say the documents created a ‘score’ for patients based on their age, frailty, and illness. Under the system, over 80s were automatically excluded from intensive care treatment due to their age.  

Though the tool was never formally published, the paper, which carries claims by doctors who say the tool was used in their hospitals, said the documents were widely circulated among health care professionals.

NHS chiefs have today hit back at the reports, saying that while early work on an intensive care national ‘triage tool’ did take place, it was ‘not completed’ and never issued.

They also denied critical care units were ever at capacity and said more than 110,000 hospital patients with Covid-19 have been treated so far, two thirds whom were aged over 65. 

The claims come following a three-month investigation by the Sunday Times, who have spoken to more than 50 witnesses, including doctors, bereaved families, care home workers, politicians and government advisers.

As part of the investigation, the paper claims some GPs were asked to identify frail and elderly patients who would be left at home, even if they needed hospital treatment due to complications from Covid-19.

It also claims NHS England issued guidance about groups of patients who should not ordinarily be taken to hospital without the green light from a senior doctor. These groups include all care home residents.

Meanwhile, paramedics were told to be more selective about who they take into hospital, the paper adds.

The paper also claims the controversial triage tool, which was first discussed by the UK’s Moral and Ethical Advisory Group (MEAG) at the start of the pandemic in March, was used in hospitals in Manchester, Liverpool, London, the Midlands and the southeast.

The tool was to be used to give a score to patients using their age, frailty and pre-existing health conditions. That score would then be used work out if a patient should be selected for critical care, should they need it, with ‘eight’ being the cut-off point.

Under the tool, those over the age of 80 would score nine on their age alone, meaning they would automatically be excluded, while over 75s were marked close to eight to begin with.

According to the Sunday Times, a second version was later produced, lowering the score for age, but still advising those over 80 who were not in peak physical health should be denied treatment.

NHS chiefs say the service has never adopted, published or relied on any such tool and its logo has not be authorised for use on any such tool. 

However, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association, told the Sunday Times ‘large numbers of patients’ did ‘not receive the care they needed’ and this was down to the health service’ not having the resources’.  

Meanwhile, Conservative MP David Davis told the paper: ‘The policy appears to have given the least care to those who needed it most.

‘It is profoundly wrong that the government did not come clean to the public about this tragedy.’ 

However, the decision to review a triage tool has been defended by health chiefs, who said the process was talked about at the start of the pandemic, when it was estimated around two-million people could be put in hospital by Covid-19.

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘No intensive care national triage tool was issued by the NHS.

‘Early work on a triage tool was commissioned when modelling suggested two million people here could require hospital treatment and hospitals in northern Italy and Spain were being overwhelmed.

‘This was not completed let alone issued because it became clear that, thanks to the efforts of the public in following Government guidance, the number of patients would be kept within NHS capacity.’

Co-chair of MEAG, Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery, said: ‘We were asked to look at the issue of a Covid-19 triage tool, however, it wasn’t needed. 

‘Clinicians have been focused throughout the pandemic on assessing the individual needs of their patients and then providing the care that will benefit them best.

‘The rapid expansion of critical care capacity ensured that our initial concern that the NHS might be unable to meet all its patients’ needs proved unfounded.’  

Meanwhile, Dr Alison Pittard, Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, said: ‘Throughout the first wave of Covid-19 the NHS did not run out of critical care capacity, which remained available to everybody who would benefit from it.

‘As we learned more about Covid-19 treatment changed as it became clear that oxygen therapy, that can be delivered on general wards, is often more beneficial than being on a ventilator.

‘The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine has been clear throughout that doctors should make decisions about patients’ treatment just as they normally would.’ 

At last! NHS workers are ‘set to get a vaccine in weeks’ as the Government accelerates timetable for a mass roll-out before Christmas – while ministers introduce new laws to bypass EU approval for jab

By Michael Powell and Glen Owen for the Mail on Sunday

Plans are being drawn up for frontline NHS staff to receive a coronavirus vaccine within weeks, as the Government moves to accelerate the timetable for a mass roll-out.

An email sent by an NHS Trust chief to his staff, seen by The Mail on Sunday, reveals the Health Service is preparing for a national vaccination programme before Christmas. 

It can also be disclosed that the Government has introduced new laws that would allow the UK to bypass the EU approval process if a safe and effective jab is ready before the end of the post-Brexit transition period on December 31.

The move will boost optimism that a ‘game-changing’ vaccine will soon allow Boris Johnson to relax the social restrictions which have crippled the country since March.

In his memo to staff earlier this month, Glen Burley, chief executive of George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Warwickshire, wrote: ‘Our Trust, alongside NHS organisations nationally, has been told to be prepared to start a Covid-19 staff vaccine programme in early December. 

‘The latest intelligence states a coronavirus vaccine should be available this year with NHS staff prioritised prior to Christmas.’

Mr Burley added that the vaccine was ‘expected to be given in two doses, 28 days apart’ and urged his colleagues to have had their flu shot by the end of November so they can qualify for a Covid-19 jab.

Diane Wake, chief executive of the Dudley Group NHS Trust, told a recent hospital board meeting: ‘I’m hoping for a Covid-19 vaccine to be available to healthcare providers some time in December. It has not been confirmed yet but I’m hoping to be able to offer a Covid-19 vaccine to our staff.’ 

Despite facing continued criticism, Mr Hancock has pushed through new laws to strip the European Medicines Agency of the power to approve the vaccine if it is ready before the end of December. Instead, British watchdogs will be able to fast-track its production.

A health official said: ‘Although we still think it most likely that the vaccine will be ready early next year, Matt wants the freedom to operate if it all moves more quickly.’

The official added that under changes to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, which took effect on October 16, the UK was ‘no longer beholden to the EU process if a vaccine is developed before 2021 and has strong evidence proving it is safe, high quality and effective’.

They added: ‘Should a vaccine be available before the end of the year, we have put in place robust measures to allow the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to authorise the vaccine for UK patients. This will only happen if there is a strong public health justification and the EU process is taking too long.’

The regulator will have autonomy to approve vaccines for the UK from 2021 in any case.

A senior Government source said: ‘We have made sure that if a vaccine is proven safe and effective we won’t be held back from deploying it by the need for approval from Brussels.’

NHS staff are most likely to receive the vaccine being developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which is in the final stages of trials.

The Government has already bought 100 million doses of the drug, which is administered in two doses. Under Government plans, frontline NHS staff and care home workers will be vaccinated first, followed by those aged over 80.

Human trials of the Oxford vaccine have been under way since April, involving about 20,000 volunteers worldwide. Scientists have reported a ‘robust immune response’ and no serious side-effects.

Last night, David Eltringham, managing director at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, said: ‘We don’t have a definite date for delivery of the vaccine, but we are making ready to deploy the vaccine from the beginning of December.’