Evan Davis presents a new discussion series exploring key lessons to learn from the coronavirus pandemic, a year after the eruption of the crisis in the UK. In the first episode on preparedness, Evan and his panel of expert guests discuss the UK's readiness to handle a pandemic and compare it with the experience of other countries.

Should the UK have been better prepared, given it had conducted a major exercise in pandemic planning, Operation Cygnus, in 2016? What can we learn from other countries, particularly those in South East Asia, which responded quickly and effectively to the epidemic? Has Covid-19 radically changed our attitude towards risks which threaten the UK and the world?

We explore the role of the UK's national risk register and discuss whether new structures and more funding are needed to insure against emergency.

Evan and guests also explore how far poor public health contributed to the UK being ill-prepared to face the pandemic.

Guests:
Sir Oliver Letwin, Minister for Preparedness 2010-2016
Sir Mark Walport, UK Chief Scientific Adviser, 2013-17
Professor Sian Griffiths, Emeritus Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong
Laura Spinney, science journalist, author of 'Pale Rider' about the 1918 flu pandemic

The second and third episodes of 'Lessons on a Crisis' explore themes of leadership and community resilience.

Producer: Leala Padmanabhan Show less