UK News Daily NHS Covid Inquiry Probes Failures, Drink Spiking Tragedy Hits Bangkok, York Council Votes on Sarah Ferguson Freedom, Scotland Bans Greyhound Racing, and more...
Mar 19, 2026
An inquiry scrutinizes NHS handling of Covid, leadership and backlog issues while families demand firm action. A suspected drink-spiking in Bangkok leaves a Brit dead and another critically ill. York councillors weigh removing a civic honour amid scandal fallout. Scotland moves to ban greyhound racing, spotlighting animal welfare and wider UK reform.
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NHS Inquiry Focuses On Leadership And Backlogs
- The UK COVID-19 Inquiry is scrutinising NHS leadership, primary care and backlog management during the pandemic response.
- Bereaved families say the NHS was underfunded and want concrete recommendations to fix visiting, funding and systemic failures revealed by testimony.
British Couple Hit By Suspected Drink Spiking In Bangkok
- Tom Pardee, 38, was found unresponsive in Bangkok and his partner Naomi Raksha, 31, was intubated and later in a coma after suspectedly spiked drinks.
- Naomi was revived multiple times and later described her near-death experience, while Thai authorities and the FCDO investigate and family set up a GoFundMe.
York Council To Decide On Sarah Ferguson Honour
- York City Council will vote on March 26 whether to strip Sarah Ferguson of the Freedom of the City over her 2011 email praising Jeffrey Epstein as a friend.
- The move follows company wind-downs, loss of charity support and local condemnation despite no criminal charges against Ferguson related to Epstein.