The legacy of the pandemic: the good and the bad

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Captain Sir Tom Moore during this third lockdown, but what a joy to realise all that he achieved. From a Second World War veteran to an NHS campaigner, he certainly managed to lift morale, galvanise a nation and highlight the outstanding work of the NHS. How proud his family must be and how wonderful to have had such an inspiring man in their lives. We salute everyone who is fundraising to support our great institution.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly highlighted the many challenges faced by the NHS, including demand, capacity and funding. The challenge of every government is to carefully balance the public purse while at the same time provide quality public services. The technical capabilities that are available to us and an ageing population present a dilemma: how do we balance care provision with spending? An unprecedented event, such as a pandemic has starkly reminded us that systems can be stretched, but something must give.