For updates from 1 June 2024, see: UK Covid Inquiry update.
Update 31 May 2024
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry calling on people who worked in care during the pandemic, had a loved one within a care setting or were caring for a loved one at home, to share their stories with Every Story Matters, in a campaign running until mid-July. This will inform Module 6 on the care sector. There is more in the Inquiry's May newsletter including details of Every Story Matters events taking place across the UK from Summer 2024 to Spring 2025,
Update 28 May 2024
Dr Simon Case, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service, gave evidence as part of Module 2 hearings on May 23, 2024. Transcript of his evidence. Press comment:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/23/boris-johnson-government-chaos-smashed-good-people-to-pieces-case-tells-covid-inquiry
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/05/23/covid-inquiry-latest-simon-case-evidence/
Module 2C hearings in Northern Ireland have now ended. Transcripts: Core UK decision-making and Political Governance – Northern Ireland (Module 2C) - Public Hearings - UK Covid-19 Inquiry (covid19.public-inquiry.uk).
Press report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-69023690.
Public hearings on Module 3 on the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Systems in the 4 Nations of the UK will run from 9 September 2024 to 28 November 2024.
Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Baroness Hallett, has opened Module 8 which will examine the impact of the pandemic on children and young people.
Module 9, on the economic response to the pandemic, will open in July 2024.
Module 10 is expected to be announced in the Autumn. This will look at the impact of the pandemic, including on the mental health and wellbeing of the population.
Update 10 May 2024
Our CEO, Dr Jane Townson OBE, is speaking at a webinar for members on Wednesday 15 May 14.00 - 15.00, with NCF, Care England and Anthony Collins solicitors. We will talk about our experience so far behind the scenes of the UK COVID-19 Inquiry. Providers can learn how to contribute to the Inquiry. We emailed members information and registration details for the webinar on 8 May.
Update 9 May 2024
Northern Ireland Module 2C hearings are taking place from 30 April to 16 May 2024. There are recordings and transcripts of evidence given by witnesses. More about the hearings in the Inquiry's April newsletter: Inquiry Newsletter – April 2024 - UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
BBC News rolling coverage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-northern-ireland-68982996.
Update 19 April 2024
The Right Honourable Baroness Hallett, Chair of the Covid-19 UK Inquiry, has issued a ruling following the first Module 6 preliminary hearing held on 19 March 2024, which expands the scope of the module to include people with learning disabilities and autism, and changes the term “residents”, used in the provisional outline of scope of Module 6, to “recipients of care”.
The Homecare Association, National Care Forum and Care England put the case for these changes in a written submission.
Homecare Association Chief Executive, Dr Jane Townson OBE, also stressed the importance of broadening the scope during her oral statement at the preliminary hearing. Extracts include:
“Turning to our submissions on the proposed scope for module 6, we are concerned that the Inquiry risks inadvertently perpetuating some of the same mistakes and erroneous assumptions that undermined the pandemic response….”
“…By focusing narrowly on care homes and a restrictive definition of "care in the home", the Inquiry would be overlooking a significant portion of social care, including populations most severely affected by Covid-19.
It is crucial for the Inquiry to recognise that social care extends far beyond the confines of residential care homes for older people.
It encompasses a broad and complex spectrum of community-based services, supported housing, assisted living, and home care for individuals of all ages with a wide range of needs, including physical disabilities, learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions, brain injuries, and more…”
“…We urge the Inquiry to acknowledge that people with learning disabilities and autism were among the most disproportionately affected by the pandemic, with mortality rates a staggering 3-4 times higher than the general population.
Most of these individuals receive care and support outside of residential care homes, often through supported community living arrangements that enable them to lead fulfilling lives in their own homes.
Failing to investigate their experiences, along with the experiences of the skilled and compassionate workforce that supports them, would be a grave oversight undermining the very purpose of this inquiry.”
Jane’s statement is available to watch here (from 1:45:35) and there is a transcript of the hearing (see pages 78 to 86).
The three organisations issued a joint media release welcoming the changes: Care Associations welcome expanded scope of UK COVID-19 Inquiry's Social Care Module 6 (homecareassociation.org.uk).
Module 6 will look at the impact of the pandemic on the publicly and privately funded adult social care sector in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with hearings due to begin in summer 2025.
Update 18 April 2024
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s work investigating the impact of the pandemic on children and young people is progressing. The Children and Young People Voices project is ready to start hearing from several hundred children and young people, aged 9-22 years old, about how the pandemic affected them. Independent research specialists Verian are carrying out the research project.
Update 8 April 2024
The Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Baroness Hallett, has set out more detail on the timetable for public hearings for Modules 3 - 7 to run to summer 2025.
- Module 3 will investigate the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems. Its public hearings will run for 10 weeks in London split by a two-week break.
- Mon 9 Sep – Thur 10 Oct 2024
- Break: Mon 14 – Fri 25 Oct
- Mon 28 Oct – Thu 28 Nov
- Module 4 will examine vaccines, therapeutics and anti-viral treatment across the UK. The Inquiry plans to hear evidence for this investigation in London across three weeks.
- Tue 14 – Thu 30 Jan 2025
- Module 5 will explore pandemic procurement across the UK across four weeks of public hearings.
- Mon 3 Mar – Thu 3 Apr
- Module 7 will look at the approach to testing, tracing and isolation adopted during the pandemic.
- Spring 2025
- Module 6 will examine the care sector across the UK.
- Summer 2025
Hearings in Northern Ireland commence on 30 April and finish on 16 May 2024. A user guide has been published, containing information about how to get to and use the UK Covid-19 Inquiry's hearing centre in Belfast.
At the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care, gave oral and written evidence on 22 March 2024. Hearing transcript.
Update 20 March 2024
Our Chief Executive, Dr Jane Townson OBE attended the preliminary hearing of Module 6 (Care Sector) and made an oral statement on behalf of the Homecare Association, the National Care Forum and Care England. Her statement in available to watch here (from 1:45:35) and there is a transcript of the hearing (see pages 78 to 86).
Module 6 will investigate the impact of the pandemic on the publicly and privately funded adult social care sector in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. More details are included in the Inquiry’s provisional scope for Module 6.
Update 13 March 2024
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is expected to announce hearing dates for Module 6 on the UK care sector later this year. There will be a preliminary hearing on 19 March 2024 at which our CEO, Dr Jane Townson, will make an oral statement on behalf of the Care Provider Alliance.
Module 2B in Cardiff on Core UK decision-making and Political Governance in Wales saw Vaughan Gething, the Welsh health minister during the coronavirus pandemic, give evidence to Inquiry hearing on 11 March: Transcript of evidence.
Press article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-covid-vaughan-gething-b2510760.html
First Minister Mark Drakeford gave evidence on 13 March. Rolling news: Covid inquiry: UK ministers were afraid of Nicola Sturgeon - BBC News. Module 2B closed on 14 March.
The Inquiry then moves to Belfast, where Module 2C will look at Core political and administrative decision making in Northern Ireland. Public hearings will run from Tuesday 30 April 2024 – Thursday 16 May 2024 and take place at Clayton Hotel, 22 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HS.
Scottish Care is due to give evidence to the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry on 22 March: https://www.covid19inquiry.scot/news/inquiry-announces-timetable-weeks-one-and-two-its-second-tranche-health-and-social-care-impact
Update 28 February 2024
The Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Baroness Hallett, has set out plans for public hearings into healthcare, vaccines and procurement:
- Module 3 will investigate the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems. Its public hearings will run for 10 weeks in London split by a two-week break:
- Mon 9 Sep – Thur 10 Oct 2024
- Break: Mon 14 – Fri 25 Oct
- Mon 28 Oct – Thu 28 Nov
- Module 4 will examine vaccines, therapeutics and anti-viral treatment across the UK. The Inquiry plans to hear evidence for this investigation from Tuesday 14 January 2025.
- Module 5 will explore Government Procurement across the UK. The Inquiry plans to hear evidence for this investigation from Monday 3 March 2025.
The announcement says dates for Module 6 public hearings, examining the care sector across the UK, will be announced later this year.
Further modules will be announced in due course. Recommendations from the Inquiry’s first investigation into Resilience and Preparedness (Module 1) will be published in mid-2024. The Chair has confirmed that she aims to conclude public hearings by summer 2026.
See also the Covid Inquiry's February 2024 newsletter.
Update 13 February 2024
Public hearings start in Wales on 27 February 2024, in Module 2B on Core UK decision-making and Political Governance, and continue until 14 March 2024.
The Core Participants are here. The Provisional outline of scope of Module 2B is here.
Module 2C relating to Northern Ireland will begin in Belfast on 30 April 2024.
Update 9 February 2024
The UK Covid Inquiry has held its first preliminary hearing for Module 5, Procurement across the UK. This deals with procedural issues. More information. There is also a list of Module 5 Core Participants.
Update 2 February 2024
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has now published the Closing Statement on behalf of the National Care Forum, Homecare Association and Care England, dated 30 January 2024 for Module 2 of the Inquiry on core political and administrative governance and decision-making during the pandemic. In the Closing Statement, we referred to:
- The general neglect shown towards adult social care by the core political and administrative decision-makers in the UK government, which was illustrated by evidence given by witnesses to Module 2.
- The lack of planning and consideration which meant social care continued to be an afterthought in the government’s response, leaving social care providers to respond to the unfolding crisis on their own, without the necessary support and resources in place.
- The culture surrounding senior decision-makers which contributed to the sidelining of social care throughout the pandemic – a culture which failed to properly consider the impact of decisions on social care, and the impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable groups, and contributed to a stark outcome in terms of mortality rates.
- Issues apparent during witness testimony about precisely when it was known that asymptomatic transmission was occurring, a key factor that affected decision making and planning on hospital discharge and PPE and other guidance for the social care sector.
- The lack of consideration of the impact of such discharges and asymptomatic transmission on the wider adult social care sector, rather than just care homes for over 65s, for example, in the approach to testing and guidance as it took until 2021 before the entire social care sector had access to asymptomatic testing.
- The lack of consideration in Module 2 of the impact of the chaotic introduction of vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) policy and its subsequent U-turn by former Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, which had a detrimental effect on the social care workforce and providers’ work encouraging vaccine take-up.
- Lack of consideration of people with disabilities or autism during the pandemic, or indeed the diversity of care provided in the community.
- The omission of use of the precautionary principle by government, to trigger a greater, and earlier, response by central government to the unfolding crisis in adult social care.
In conclusion, we reiterated the key themes in our Opening Statement that adult social care was largely an afterthought before, during and after the pandemic, expressed in three ways:
- Social care was overlooked in key decision-making moments.
- Social care was misunderstood (it was seen as care homes for older adults, rather than a diverse system of care and support services for all ages, with a workforce of 1.6m, larger than the NHS).
- Social care was disadvantaged, especially in comparison to the NHS. Indeed, the focus of decision-making appeared to be protecting the NHS rather than citizens in all communities.
In our Appendix to the Closing Statement, we listed what we believe the Inquiry should consider in future modules, as many were not explored in Module 2:
- There was a disregard for the people drawing on care and support from government and the wider health system.
- There was a disregard for the people working in social care from government and the wider health system.
- Guidance flow and communication from government and key stakeholders was poor and chaotic throughout the first and second phase of the pandemic.
- The chain of command and communication were unclear, particularly the role of national vs. local decision-makers.
- Throughout the pandemic response, there was a concerning lack of understanding of social care by policymakers.
- There was limited understanding of the broader community provision.
- The drip feeding of funding support was unhelpful, insufficient, inefficient and bureaucratic.
- The collection and use of data were highly problematic throughout the pandemic for social care.
- The regulator of adult social care services, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was largely absent during the pandemic.
We called for a return to the nature of administrative and political decision-making during the social care module – Module 6 on the Inquiry, which will investigate the impact of the pandemic on the publicly and privately funded adult social care sector in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as there was not enough time during Module 2 for the Inquiry to probe deeply on this matter.
The Homecare Association, along with other care representative organisations, has applied for Core Participant status for Module 6, which is due to commence public hearings in Spring 2025. Information about upcoming Modules.
Our thanks to the National Care Forum for leading on the work of producing the above joint Closing Statement.
Update 1 February 2024
In Edinburgh, the Covid Inquiry continues to be dominated by communication issues, particularly the use and retention of WhatsApp messages by Scottish Ministers and Officials.
Further discussions have covered whether political considerations influenced the Scottish Government’s response to Covid.
Update 26 January 2024
Week 2 of the Covid Inquiry in Edinburgh has been dominated by communications issues, particularly the use and retention of WhatsApp messages by Scottish Ministers and Officials.
Previous discussions have covered the Scottish Government’s preparedness for Covid and whether the advice issued was timely, consistent and appropriate for Scotland.
The transcripts of evidence, and details of witnesses coming up next week, are published here. Hearings can be viewed online at https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/
Update 19 January 2024
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is now issuing a weekly hearings update email. To sign up to this weekly hearings summary or the Inquiry's newsletter, which contains regular updates on the work of the Inquiry, see the newsletter page of the Inquiry's website. The update dated 19 January 2024 summarises the first week of hearings in Edinburgh, and describes what's coming up next.
Update 15 January 2024
Hearings in Scotland (Module 2A) start in Edinburgh from 16 January 2024, with an impact video, and opening statements from Counsel to the Inquiry and Core Participants.
The Module is looking at and making recommendations about the Scottish Government’s core political and administrative decision-making in response to the Covid-19 pandemic between early January 2020 and April 2022, when the then remaining Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Scotland. More from Provisional outline of scope of Module 2A.
Timetable and details of who will be giving evidence at hearings.
Doctor Donald Macaskill (Chief Executive of Scottish Care) is due to give evidence on 18 January.
The hearings will be live-streamed on the UKCovid-19 Inquiry's YouTube channel.
The Inquiry is encouraging the public to share their stories of what happened in the pandemic, via Every Story Matters.
Update 13 December 2023
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has opened Module 6 of its investigations, which relates to the UK Care Sector, with public hearings planned for Spring 2025. More details are included in the Inquiry’s provisional scope for Module 6.
Module 6 will investigate the impact of the pandemic on the publicly and privately funded adult social care sector in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will consider the consequences of government decision-making – including restrictions imposed – on those living and working within the care sector, as well as decisions concerning capacity in hospitals and residents in adult care and residential homes.
The Module will also address the steps taken in adult care and residential homes to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and examine the capacity of the adult care sector to respond to the pandemic.
The early stages of Module 6 concern applications for Core Participant status and preliminary hearings on the running of the Inquiry.
Module 2 Hearings
Rishi Sunak MP (Prime Minister).
Press articles: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/11/deeply-sorry-what-rishi-sunak-said-to-the-covid-inquiry
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67681600
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/12/12/rishi-sunak-covid-inquiry-science-lockdown-whitty-vallance/
The Inquiry heard closing statements from Core Participants on 13 December and 14 December, before Module 2 closed. Livestream.
Hearings - Scotland (Module 2A) take place in Edinburgh from 16 January 2024, and then Module 2B in Wales in February and Module 2C in Northern Ireland in April.
Press reports suggest the Module 2 report may be delayed until early 2025: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/06/key-covid-inquiry-report-creates-election-date-headache-for-pm.
Update 8 December 2023
Boris Johnson (Former Prime Minister)
Press articles:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67646548
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/06/boris-johnson-at-the-covid-inquiry-key-takeaways
Update 1 December 2023
This week, the following leading figures gave evidence to the Inquiry:
Mayors Andy Burnham, Sadiq Khan and Steve Rotherham
Press article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67546039
Michael Gove MP (Former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster)
Press article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67557477
Professor Dame Jenny Harries (Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer; Chief Executive of UKHSA)
Press article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/jenny-harries-nhs-people-sajid-javid-covid-b2455450.html
Professor Dame Jenny Harries
Sajid Javid MP (Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care)
Press article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/sajid-javid-dominic-cummings-covid-inquiry-raab-b2455536.html
Dominic Raab MP (Former Deputy Prime Minister; Former Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs)
Press article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67570491
Hearing 30 November
Hearing 1 December
Matt Hancock MP (Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care)
Press articles: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/matt-hancock-patrick-vallance-jonathan-vantam-downing-street-ppe-b2456343.html
https://www.ft.com/content/f46183c5-d9c3-4b36-b8a6-856529d9c381
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/30/matt-hancock-evidence-covid-inquiry-dominic-cummings/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/12/01/covid-inquiry-uk-latest-news-matt-hancock-day-2/
The former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson MP, is due to give evidence on 6 and 7 December 2023. Livestream.
Update 20 November 2023
Further leading figures advising the Government in the pandemic are giving evidence this week to the main Inquiry, including Sir Patrick Vallance, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, Professor Dame Angela McLean and Kemi Badenoch MP. Livestream hearings. BBC News are live reporting.
Hearings, evidence and transcripts are included in the hearing links:
Sir Patrick Vallance
Press article: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/20/what-we-learned-from-patrick-vallance-at-the-covid-inquiry
Professor Sir Chris Whitty
Professor Sir Chris Whitty
Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam
Press article: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/five-things-learned-jonathan-van-tam-covid-inquiry-2772105
Professor Dame Angela McLean
Press article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/angela-mclean-government-dame-boris-johnson-mayor-b2452414.html
Kemi Badenoch MP
In the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, Health and Social Care Impact Hearings, which began on 24 October 2023, continue. More from Hearings and presentations | Scottish COVID-19 Inquiry.
Update 10 November 2023
This week more key figures, special advisers and senior government officials gave evidence to the Inquiry. Selected hearings, witness statements and press articles are below:
Clare Lombardelli (Former Chief Economic Adviser, HM Treasury)
Stuart Glassborow (Former Deputy Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister)
Dr Ben Warner, former Special Adviser
- Witness Statement of Clare Lombardelli, former Chief Economic Adviser, HM Treasury, dated 22/08/2023
- Witness Statement of Stuart Glassborow, dated 11/10/2023
- Witness Statement of Ben Warner, former Special Adviser, dated 08/09/2023
Press articles:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/06/covid-inquiry-uk-live-latest-updates/ (contains strong language)
Simon Ridley (Former Head of Cabinet Office Covid-19 Taskforce)
Lord Edward Udny-Lister (Former Chief of Staff at No. 10)
Transcript of Module 2 Public Hearing on 07 November 2023
- Witness Statement provided by Simon Ridley, Head of Cabinet Office Covid-19 Taskforce, dated 23/08/2023
- Witness Statement of Lord Udny-Lister, former Downing Street Chief of Staff, dated 09/08/2023
Press articles:
Sunak and Johnson pushed repeatedly against autumn lockdown, inquiry told | Covid inquiry | The Guardian
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67347456
Hearing 8 November
Lord Mark Sedwill, former Cabinet Secretary
Justin Tomlinson MP (Former Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work)
- Witness statement of Lord Mark Sedwill, former Cabinet Secretary, dated 18/08/2023
- Witness statement of Justin Tomlinson MP, dated 07/08/2023
Press articles:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/08/covid-inquiry-uk-live-evidence-latest/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-67301894/page/2
Hearing 9 November
Martin Hewitt QPM (Former Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council)
Dame Priti Patel (Former Secretary of State for the Home Department)
Jun Pang (Policy and Campaigns Officer, Liberty)
- Witness statement provided by Martin Hewitt on behalf of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), dated 29/06/2023
- Witness Statement of Dame Priti Patel, dated 20/09/2023
- Witness Statement of Jun Pang, Policy and Campaigns Officer, Liberty, dated 19/09/2023 which adopted
- Witness Statement of Sam Grant, Advocacy Director, Liberty, dated 4/08/2023
Press articles:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67372615
Update 5 November 2023
Last week saw key figures giving evidence to Module 2 of the Covid Inquiry, which is looking at core UK decision-making and political governance.
Links to the hearing transcripts and written statements witnesses had previously given to the Inquiry are set out below. Other documents can be found at Documents Archive - UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
The hearings have been extensively covered in the press, and a selection of articles is included.
Hearing 30 October
Martin Reynolds – (Former Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister) and Imran Faisal Shafi - (Former Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Public Services)
Transcript from 30 October 2023
- Witness statement of Martin Alexander Baillie Reynolds, former Principal Private Secretary to the PM in No.10 Downing Street, dated 22/05/2023
- Witness Statement of Imran Shafi, former Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, dated 19/06/2023
Press article: Boris Johnson ‘made it impossible for nation to tackle pandemic effectively’ — as it happened, The Times, 30 October 2023.
Hearing 31 October
Lee Cain (Former Director of communications) and Dominic Cummings (Former chief adviser to Prime Minister)
Transcript from 31 October 2023
- Witness Statement of Lee Cain, former Director of Communications, dated 25/07/2023
- Witness statement of Dominic Cummings dated 12/10/2023
Press article: Eight shocking revelations from Cummings and Cain at the Covid inquiry, Guardian, 31 October 2023.
Hearing 1 November
Helen MacNamara (Former deputy cabinet secretary)
Professor David Halpern (President and Former Chief Executive Officer of the Behavioural Insights Team)
Transcript from 1 November 2023
- Witness statement of Helen MacNamara, dated 09/10/2023
- Witness Statement of David Halpern, CEO of the Cabinet Office Behavioural Insights Team, dated 19/05/2023
Press article: ‘Absence of humanity’: Helen MacNamara’s evidence to Covid inquiry | Covid inquiry, Guardian, 1 November 2023.
Hearing 2 November
Lord Simon Stevens (Former NHS Chief Executive)
Sir Christopher Wormald (Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care)
Professor Yvonne Doyle (Former Medical Director and Director for Health Protection, Public Health England)
Transcript from 2 November 2023
- Witness statement of Lord Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, dated 22/09/2023
- Third Witness Statement provided by Sir Christopher Stephen Wormald, on behalf of Department of Health and Social Care, dated 29/03/2023
- Fifth Witness Statement provided by Sir Christopher Stephen Wormald on behalf of DHSC, dated 25/08/2023
- Eighth Witness Statement provided by Sir Christopher Wormald, on behalf of Department of Health and Social Care, dated 30/08/2023
- Ninth Witness statement of Sir Christopher Wormald, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care, dated 22/09/2023
- Witness Statement of Professor Yvonne Doyle, formed Medical Director of Public Health England, dated 17/10/2023
Press article: Covid inquiry: Hancock ‘wanted to decide who should live or die’ if NHS overwhelmed, Guardian, 2 November 2023.
The week’s evidence prompted several press articles commenting on the Inquiry itself and its purpose, including:
- We needed a Covid inquiry – but this isn’t it, Carl Heneghan, The Spectator, 4 November 2023
- Covid inquiry must offer more than lurid revelations, Camilla Cavendish, FT, 3 November
The timetable for upcoming hearings is at: Core UK Decision-making and Political Governance (Module 2) – Public Hearings. Details of witnesses due to give evidence are generally listed a week in advance.
Live streaming of hearings is available from UK Covid-19 Inquiry and can be played back from UK Covid-19 Inquiry - YouTube.
Module 2 hearings continue until 14 December 2023. The Opening Statement we gave in respect of this Module is at Opening Statement on behalf of the National Care Forum, Homecare Association and Care England, dated 25 September 2023.
Module 6 is on the Care sector across the UK and has yet to start. Public hearings are due to commence in Spring 2025. A number of preliminary hearings are expected to address the procedural aspects.
The Homecare Association, in conjunction with Care England and the National Care Forum, will be applying for Core Participant status for Module 6 when the application window opens from 12 December 2023 to 19 January 2024.
There are online details of the Structure of the Inquiry - UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
Thank you to Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP for their help in compiling information about the Inquiry hearings.
Update 27 October 2023
Every Story Matters provide everyone affected by the pandemic the opportunity to share the impact it had on them and their life within the Inquiry.
They will be hosting a series of small targeted events, which will be for healthcare workers, social care workers and people living in care homes to speak to them about their experiences of the pandemic.
The upcoming event locations are:
- 14-15 November: Carlisle
- 16 -17 November: Wrexham
- 27-28 November: Exeter
- Week commencing 27 November: Newham.
These are dates to hold in your diaries. We will keep members informed of more information when we receive it.
Update 5 October 2023
Information the Homecare Association gave to the Inquiry in our questionnaire on Wales was referred to before the evidence session on 5 October 2023 attended by Caroline Abrahams, Director of Age UK. Counsel to the Inquiry, summarising questionnaire responses from interest groups relating to the issue of later life and the longer term impacts of the pandemic, said (transcript, page 175/line 3):
"[Then, finally,] Homecare Association Wales stated that: "Recovery did not end in spring 2022. Workforce wellbeing continues to be important. The Welsh Government began discussions about recovery in 2020 and produced a Covid-19 recovery framework in July 2021. However, the guidance [they say] for social care only really reached a new normal during the spring 2023 when testing was finally stepped down."
Update 4 October 2023
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has now published the Opening Statement on behalf of the National Care Forum, Homecare Association and Care England, dated 25 September 2023 for Module 2 of the Inquiry on core political and administrative governance and decision-making during the pandemic.
In the Opening Statement, we said it was clear from the experiences and evidence from the memberships of the National Care Forum, Homecare Association and Care England that adult social care was largely neglected before, during and after the pandemic by the core political and administrative governance and decision-makers. We urged to Inquiry to guided in its investigations by the following statements:
• Social care was overlooked in key decision-making moments.
• Social care was misunderstood (it was seen as care homes for older adults, rather than a diverse system of care and support services for all ages, with a workforce of 1.6m, larger than the NHS).
• Social care was disadvantaged (especially in comparison to the NHS. Indeed, the focus of decision-making appeared to be protecting the NHS rather than citizens in all communities).
In our joint view, such a focus would allow the Inquiry itself to avoid the pitfall of overlooking adult social care.
In addition to comments on Module 2, the submission includes reflections on hearings from Module 1, comments on the Inquiry’s chronology and concluding remarks.
Update 3 October 2023
Public hearings into core UK decision-making and political governance (Module 2) start 3 October 2023, with opening statements from Counsel to the Inquiry Core Participants, and Core Participants. BBC News article previewing the hearings.
The topics covered are expected to include the government's response in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, including social distancing, face mask wearing and lockdowns.
Module 2 public hearings timetable - UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
The hearings are available to watch on YouTube, but will be subject to a three minute delay.
Update 19 September 2023
It was announced public hearings for the Inquiry’s investigations into core UK decision-making and political governance in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (Modules 2A, 2B and 2C) will take place in January, February and April 2024 respectively. More from: Update: UK Covid-19 Inquiry to hear evidence in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in early 2024 - UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
Update 31 August 2023
From the 3 October, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry will begin public hearings for the second investigation, examining core UK decision making and political governance.
Module 2 will take place over nine weeks, with two week-long breaks commencing from Monday 23 October and Monday 13 November. The hearings will be available to watch on YouTube, but will be subject to a three minute delay.
We would like to remind you that there is an opportunity to submit your own experience of the pandemic and the lasting impact it has had on yourself, your family and other aspects of your through Every Story Matters.
Your participation will be anonymised and turned into themed reports which will be submitted to each relevant investigation. Every Story Matters will remain open throughout the duration of the Inquiry.
Update 14 June 2023
The first public hearings of the Covid-19 inquiry began this week.
The inquiry was established to examine the Government’s response to the pandemic, the impact on the public and to learn lessons that can be implemented into future planning.
It is being chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired judge and crossbench peer.
The inquiry will cover four modules, these are:
- Module 1: Resilience and preparedness
- Module 2: Core UK decision-making and political governance
- Module 3: Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare
- Module 4: Vaccines and therapeutics.
This week marks the opening hearing for Module 1: Resilience and preparedness, which saw the opening remarks from Baroness Hallett, the opening statement from Counsel to the Inquiry and from the Core Participants.
All of the hearings will be livestreamed on YouTube.
We will update this page as the inquiry proceeds.
Every Story Matters - UK Covid-19 Inquiry gives everyone affected by the pandemic the opportunity to share the impact it had on them and their life with the Inquiry. Participation toolkit and accessibility information.
