The former chairwoman of the UK’s vaccine taskforce has urged the Government to “do better” in its preparation for future disease outbreaks.
Dame Kate Bingham, who stood down from her role at the end of last year, said the UK was “woefully underprepared” for the pandemic and added that if there had been a reliance on the Government’s existing machinery the vaccine rollout may not have seen the same success.
She has urged for more scientists to be hired as civil servants to help make key decisions in the event of any future deadly disease outbreaks.
Writing in The Times, Dame Kate said: “The machinery of government is dominated by process rather than outcome, causing delay and inertia. There is an obsessive fear of personal error and criticism, a culture of groupthink and risk aversion that stifles initiative and encourages foot-dragging.
“The life sciences industry, including the pharmaceutical sector, turns over £80 billion every year. It is vital for our safety and prosperity that it can flourish. Yet the Government treats it with hostility and suspicion, causing companies to move to countries with more science-friendly environments such as Belgium and Ireland.”
Dame Kate’s views echo similar comments made by the Prime Minister’s former top aide Dominic Cummings and the Science and Technology Committee and the Health and Social Care Committee.
Mr Cummings has been openly critical of how the early stages of the pandemic were dealt with by the Government, and previously told Sky News that the Government system for dealing with crises is a “disaster.”
A cross-party report published last month saw MPs praise the work of Dame Kate, suggesting that her taskforce’s non-Government structure was a factor in its success.
It said: “It is clear that the bespoke structure of the vaccine taskforce together with Kate Bingham’s direct approach to leadership, including building a high performing team around her, were of great importance.
“It is also very clear that much of the success of the UK vaccine project was attributable to the vaccine taskforce, and in particular its bespoke role within the official system - a diverse group of people, led by an independent, industry-experienced individual, and sitting outside the Whitehall hierarchy.”
The Cabinet Office has been contacted for comment.
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