Medicine and Science from The BMJ New Covid inquiry findings with Dr Kevin Fong, and invasive cosmetic procedures
Mar 27, 2026
Kevin Fong, consultant anaesthetist and major-incident planner, reflects on Module Three of the UK Covid Inquiry. Alexandra Mullock, senior lecturer in medical law, and Danielle Griffiths, law academic on social justice, tackle the surge in invasive cosmetic procedures. They discuss staff experiences, moral injury, preparedness, regulation gaps, normalization of treatments, cross-border risks, and legal enforcement challenges.
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Pandemic Left A Younger Less Experienced Workforce
- The pandemic created lasting workforce damage: many staff left and the NHS workforce became measurably younger and less experienced.
- Kevin Fong notes that in 2022 more staff left than ever, including one in nine nurses, undermining productivity and institutional memory.
Overrevving The NHS Causes Micro Fractures
- Over-revving the NHS during the pandemic created micro fractures in the system analogous to over-torquing an engine.
- Kevin Fong uses an air-ambulance pilot metaphor to explain why short-term surges degrade long-term performance.
Blanket DNACPRs Revealed Systemic Failings
- The inquiry found inappropriate blanket DNACPR notices were imposed on groups like people with learning disabilities and older people.
- Kevin Fong admits this was 'clearly incorrect' and stresses the need to understand why the system rationalized such actions under strain.