Sixth report on care sector released

Heather Hallett has published her sixth report since the Covid-19 inquiry began in spring two thousand twenty-two, focusing on the impact of the pandemic on adult social care.

The pandemic's toll on care homes

Tens of thousands of people died in care homes. Staff wore bin bags due to lack of protective clothing. Relatives were banned from seeing loved ones in their dying days.

Inquiry cost exceeds two hundred million pounds

The Covid-19 inquiry is the most expensive public inquiry in history, costing more than one hundred twenty two million pounds.

Recommendations fall short of expectations

The report's six-page appendix recommends more detailed pandemic planning for care, records of isolation facilities, and new visitor restriction guidance. Bereaved families say this repeats what was already known.

Families feel let down by findings

Deborah Doyle, whose mother Sylvia Griffiths died aged seventy six in a Sunderland care home on sixteen April two thousand twenty, said the report was underwhelming and failed to hold individuals accountable.

“It's everything that we knew already, it needs to go further. I felt quite underwhelmed.”

Lawyer calls report a superficial damp squib

Nicola Brook, representing bereaved families, described the report as a superficial damp squib. Jean Adamson said the report does not hold individuals accountable for multiple failures in pandemic management.

“It does not hold individuals accountable for the multiple failures in the way the pandemic was managed.”

Inquiry risks losing faith of key groups

Without bolder recommendations and sharper findings on accountability, the inquiry risks losing the faith of bereaved families and campaign groups who fought hard for it, leaving the UK no better prepared for the next pandemic.