From March to December 2022, there were 1,630 excess deaths from colorectal and anal cancer. The true number of excess deaths will be unknown for years because data on five-year survival rates are not yet available.

The number of deaths from heart attacks increased, and the condition of people who needed hip replacements deteriorated to the point that surgery was no longer an option.

The delay in children and young people's access to mental health services also led to a marked increase in the severity of their conditions.

One study found that a general practice with 10,000 patients might have more than 400 undiagnosed long-term conditions that would have been diagnosed in normal times.

"During the pandemic, barriers to accessing healthcare for non-Covid-19 conditions and changes to the delivery of services led to marked declines in rate of diagnosis, referrals and specialist treatment."

The report made 10 recommendations in preparation for a future pandemic, which included increasing capacity in urgent and emergency care, improving data collection on those most at risk, increasing support for healthcare workers and recording any deaths within the profession.

One bereaved family member had told the inquiry that they had "to say goodbye to their loved one by text message, hoping that a nurse would read it out".

The inquiry also examined reports of "blanket" do not resuscitate orders being issued during the pandemic, with some family members claiming they had not been properly consulted about such decisions.

"During the course of the pandemic, there were reports of inappropriate and/or blanket DNACPR (do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation) notices being imposed on groups of people, such as those with learning disabilities or older people."

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A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal health officials from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every child, and said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in revamping a key vaccine advisory committee.

The decision halted an order by Kennedy — announced in January — to end broad recommendations for all children to be vaccinated against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV.

It also stopped a meeting of a Kennedy-appointed vaccine advisory committee, which was set to convene this week in Atlanta.

The judge's order, however, is not the final word. The blocks are temporary, pending either a trial or a decision for summary judgment.

Federal health officials indicated they planned to appeal.