Today Baroness Heather Hallett has published her first report regarding Module 1 of the Covid Inquiry. The report has clearly outlined that the government failed to adequately plan for the pandemic, naming the effects of Brexit, the impact of austerity, and the failure to prepare personal protective equipment stocks.  

Within the report Baroness Hallett, outlined 10 key recommendations for the government to consider.  

1. Each government should create a single Cabinet level or equivalent ministerial committee (including the minister responsible for DHSC) responsible for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience to be chaired by the leader or deputy for the relevant government.  

2. The lead government department model for whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience is not appropriate and should be abolished.  

3. Risk assessments should move away from the reasonable worst-case scenario.  

4. A new UK-wide whole system civil emergency strategy should be put in place and reassessed every 3 years to ensure it is up to date and incorporates lessons learned from exercises.  

5. Establish new mechanisms for the collection and analysis of data.  

6. A UK wide pandemic exercise should be held every 3 years.  

7. Each government should report within 3 months on the exercises the findings, lessons and recommendations. Within 6 months it should publish an action plan setting out the steps taken in response to the findings.  

8. Each government should publish a report on whole-system civil emergency preparedness and resilience every 3 years.  

9. External “red” teams should be used in civil service to scrutinise and challenge the principles, evidence, policies and advice.  

10. A UK wide independent statutory body for whole-system civil emergency preparedness, resilience and response. It should provide strategic advice to the government, consult with voluntary, community, and social sectors and directors of public health and make recommendations. 

Baroness Hallett also notably detailed the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, especially those who lost loved ones to the virus.    

Elkan Abrahamson, head of major inquests and inquiries at Broudie Jackson Canter, who represents the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group which has almost 7,000 members, said:  

“We are delighted to see that Baroness Hallett has listened and taken on board most of our recommendations to prevent a disaster like the Covid pandemic ever happening again.  

However, it is extremely disappointing that the vulnerable were ignored in the recommendations and there were no proposals for dealing with racial inequality, health inequalities or the effects of austerity.  

We will be taking this up with the government. We will be going back to the chair in the future to ask her to ensure that her crucial recommendations are carried out.” 

The Covid Inquiry will continue its work later this year with Module 3 starting in September 2024, which will examine the impact that the pandemic had on healthcare systems, patients, and health care workers.  

If you or a loved one has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic , it is not too late to be part of the Covid Inquiry.  For more information on how to instruct legal representation here.