Dear Mark 

Use of data on specialist care

As you are already aware, we have been looking into use of unpublished data quoted in The Times on 4 December, stating “more than 90 per cent of Covid sufferers requiring the most specialist care are unvaccinated”.  

Thank you for liaising with us and for your prompt action in response. NHSE&I has now published additional data on Adult Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Severe Respiratory Failure for patients commencing ECMO due to COVID-19 infection between 1 July 2021 and 22 November 2021.  

This quick response meant that you addressed the issues and resolved the concerns that we and others had. Whilst we understand that on this occasion it was a genuine mistake which was quickly corrected, I would like to re-iterate the importance of ensuring any figures referred to publicly are made available. 

Yours sincerely  

Ed Humpherson
Director General for Regulation