The Welsh health system was “not adequately prepared” to deal with high consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) prior to pandemic, the Covid inquiry heard today.
Frank Atherton, the chief medical officer (CMO) for Wales, admitted the country had no specialist units capable of treating patients with diseases such as Mpox, Ebola and Covid-19.
Atherton noted that arrangements were in place to transfer patients to Newcastle and London, where these units existed, but signalled his concern at this state of affairs.
