Covid inquiry told Treasury blocked NHS bed request
The article reports that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHS requested additional hospital beds from the Treasury, but the request was blocked. Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of NHS England, stated that this decision in July 2020 was "very disappointing." The article suggests that the Treasury's refusal to provide the requested hospital beds may have impacted the NHS's ability to cope with the surge in COVID-19 cases at the time. This decision by the Treasury has now been brought to the attention of the COVID-19 inquiry, which is investigating the government's response to the pandemic. The article does not provide further details on the reasons behind the Treasury's decision or the potential consequences of not granting the NHS's request. It remains focused on the key fact that the NHS's request for additional beds was denied by the Treasury during a critical period of the pandemic.
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