Preparing for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit was prioritised over pandemic planning in the run-up to Covid, a leading DHSC official has said.

Director of emergency preparedness and health protection at the DHSC, Emma Read told the Covid-19 Inquiry on Monday that while preparing social care for a flu pandemic was “important” it “was not a priority”, openDemocracy reported.

Reed said: “My view at that time was preparing for a no-deal exit took precedence over completion of some of these pieces of work for a short period of time.

“My concern about the impact of adult social care as a result of a no-deal exit – a real incredible threat to that sector – was that that sector needed to prepare for and ready itself before a no-deal exit over the risk of a pandemic preparedness.”

A government document on flu pandemic preparedness shown at the inquiry listed social care among “areas of work not prioritised for the next six months”.

Reed’s comments came during the public hearing on of the first module of the Covid inquiry covering pandemic preparedness which began this month.

A government review document published by openDemocracy earlier this month revealed the government knew as early as September 2020 that the prioritisation of hospital capacity had been to the detriment of social care despite claiming to have thrown a “protective ring” around the sector.

The social care module of the inquiry is not expected to take place until 2025.