Recommendation 7

Early in the pandemic, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) critical care guidelines and doctors’ inappropriate or blanket use of “Do not attempt resuscitation” (DNAR) notices were potentially discriminatory. While we welcome actions taken swiftly to address disabled people’s concerns, and steps subsequently taken by NICE and the NHS to review their practices and try to put things right, the fact that potentially discriminatory practices emerged in the first place is deeply concerning. These issues caused disabled people great distress and anxiety and left them feeling their lives were less valued than others’. A robust response is required to restore disabled people’s confidence that their needs are given equal consideration across government and public services, should we be faced with a similar public health emergency in the future.