Charlie Alford

Unions and anti-corruption campaigners react to damning Covid Inquiry report

Post author:Grace
Post published:15 July 2026
Post last modified:16 July 2026

Yesterday, 15 July, the Covid Inquiry published its latest update — this time focusing on the Johnson government’s failure to secure adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). In response, both anti-corruption campaigning organisations and the unions representing affected hospital workers have been swift to issue their condemnation. As the Canary’s Joe Glenton previously reported: Boris Johnson’s government wasted £10bn on unusable personal protective equipment (PPE), the Covid inquiry report has found. Inquiry chair Heather Hallett also slammed the then-Conservative government’s use of firms with Tory ‘VIP’ connections to fulfil major PPE contracts. BMA: Government performance ‘an omnishambles’ Reacting to the Module 5 report,…

Campaigners react to damning report on Nottingham maternity care failures

Post author:Grace
Post published:26 June 2026
Post last modified:26 June 2026

Charities and campaigning organisations have reacted with sadness and a damning lack of surprise to the findings of the Ockenden Report, which detailed extensive failings in maternity and neonatal care under Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust. The review’s leader, independent senior midwife Donna Ockenden, included a detailed 18-point framework of ‘Immediate and Essential Actions’ for improvement, both nationally and in Nottingham. A single overarching principle — ‘Martha’s Rule’ — underpinned every recommendation. NHS England explained that: Martha’s Rule is a patient safety initiative to support the early detection of deterioration by ensuring the concerns of patients, families, carers and staff…