• The Royal College of Physicians has conducted a new study of the quality of care given to patients in the UK with COVID-19.
• The study looked at variations between hospitals when it came to end of life care experiences, assessment, and more.
• The study concluded that overall care delivered was judged to have been adequate, good or excellent for 96.5% of patients.

Responding to the Royal College of Physicians' (RCP) new study of the quality of care given to patients in the UK with COVID-19, the director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin, said:

"The pandemic has placed extraordinary pressures on the NHS.

"Trust leaders and frontline staff are only too keenly aware of the disruption caused to many people. Staff have been working flat out to bear down on the care backlog, even as the pandemic pressures continue.

"But despite the huge challenges of the past 18 months, these findings suggest that the quality of care provided has stood up well.

"This is a great credit to the commitment, skills and compassion of NHS staff who have, in so many ways, gone the extra mile to do their best for patients, often in extremely difficult circumstances.

"It is important to recognise that lessons can and must be learned. But it is also right to acknowledge the important achievements reflected in these RCP study findings."