good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. the first report from the covid inquiry says the uk government and devolved nations failed their citizens, and didn t plan well enough for a potential pandemic. it heard from hundreds of witnesses, and concludes that major flaws in the uk s preparations meant that the virus caused more deaths and greater economic damage than it should have. it s calling for a radical reform of the systems put in place. our health editor hugh pym joins us from central london. hugh, this is a damning report, tell us more about what it contains? a damning report, more than 200 pages! just the first report of several that the inquiry will produce in a process that will last until 2027. it s a highly significant moment because it is the first report from the inquiry chair, baroness hallett, and her colleagues here at the inquiry base. and it really could hardly be more damning. it doesn t find specific failings by individuals, i think that is not
correspondence. if this was one of those correspondence. if this was one of those occasions where you got the letter those occasions where you got the letter in those occasions where you got the letter in and the draft reply out, like the letter in and the draft reply out, like the document we are looking at at the like the document we are looking at at the moment, how would you judge whether at the moment, how would you judge whether the right approach was being taken? whether the right approach was being taken? if whether the right approach was being taken? if you just got those two bits taken? if you just got those two hits of taken? if you just got those two bits of paper? the taken? if you ust got those two bits of paper? bits of paper? the way that it worked is bits of paper? the way that it worked is that bits of paper? the way that it worked is that he bits of paper? the way that it worked is that he would - bits of paper? the way that it worked
because nhs was under such extreme pressure because of nhs was under such extreme pressure because of underfunding, before the pandemic, because of underfunding, before the pandemic, so that it was not able to cope pandemic, so that it was not able to cope and pandemic, so that it was not able to cope. and more generally, the social and economic inequalities that were damaging and economic inequalities that were damaging the health of the people, what we damaging the health of the people, what we know, if you look at two countries, what we know, if you look at two countries, the uk and the us, pre pandemic, our countries had the slowest pre pandemic, our countries had the slowest improvement in health and the biggest increase in health inequalities of any rich country pre pandemic, and then during the pandemic, pre pandemic, and then during the pandemic, the countries that were most pandemic, the countries that were most hit pandemic, the countries that
a blaze ripped through one of the dorms injanuary, as protests grew over conditions. injust two months, almost 200 men were infected with covid, as the virus swept through the packed dormitories and shared facilities. some tried to run away, fearing for their lives. today, mrjustice linden ruled that it was inevitable there would be a major outbreak of covid 19. he said that led to actual bodily harm of the residents and, as a result, the mental health of the claimants deteriorated. today, residents say they re still desperate to leave. we not have hot water. we not have internet, we not have electricity. we have just one douche for 100 person, and live in this military base for 100 people. you understand 7 if you need food bad food. same food, notjust bad. and everything, my friend, is bad here. the home office today said it was disappointed with the ruling, but it hasn t said whether it s going to appeal and it s go no plans, either, to close the facility. that s becaus