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The government faces prosecution if it refuses to disclose the results of an exercise that confirms that the UK was unable to cope with an influenza pandemic.
Dr. Moosa Qureshi, an NHS physician, demands that the government publish his report in the Cygnus exercise, a three-day simulation involving government and public health agencies conducted in 2016.
Qureshi, who is an activist for the 54000doctors.org group, represented by Leigh Day’s attorneys, has sent a pre-action protocol letter to the secretary of state for health requesting a response by 4pm.
If the government does not disclose the findings of the Cygnus Exercise without adequate reason, Qureshi’s attorneys will seek an urgent judicial review to challenge the decision and seek publication. A crowdfunding page to support the challenge will be launched on Saturday night.
The dispute threatens to become a great shame for the government. the Telegraph reported that Cygnus’ findings were deemed “too terrifying” to be made public.
Last week the Observer revealed that the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threat Advisory Group minutes suggested that the report had included four key recommendations, including one that the health department strengthens the capacity for increase and the ability of hospitals to cope with a pandemic.
A request for freedom of information to view the report has been rejected.
Qureshi argues that there is an exceptionally strong public interest in the publication of the report, given that its lessons and recommendations are “directly relevant” to the procedures developed to combat Covid-19.
“There is no persuasive argument for secrecy when handling a health crisis,” said Qureshi. “Successful science and healthcare depends on transparency, peer review, collaboration, and engagement with the public.
“I believe that if the government had followed the Cygnus exercise by engaging transparently with health and welfare partners, with industry and the public, then many of the deaths of my heroic healthcare colleagues and the general public during the Covid-19 pandemic could have been avoided. “
Tessa Gregory, Leigh Day attorney, said: “Our client believes that the NHS workforce and the general public have a right to know what the Cygnus Exercise revealed about what must be done to maintain NHS staff and the public. safe in a pandemic.
“The information the exercise revealed is believed to be kept hidden when a public debate about its content can inform important decisions about how to better protect lives in the future.”
A Health Department spokeswoman said she was unable to comment “due to current legal procedures.”
