Frequently Asked Questions relating to Covid Inquiry Core Participant Status

 

Q. Covid-19 is not on the death certificate, will I still be able to participate in the Inquiry?

A. The Chair of the Inquiry ultimately decides who will and who won’t be allowed to be a core participant. If you aren't allowed to be a core participant, you won’t be allowed direct access to the disclosed paperwork but as the proceedings are all or almost all going to be public, we can still update you.

 

Q: Will Core Participants be very involved?

A: Lady Hallett made a statement at the start of the process that the bereaved families will be at the forefront of the inquiry process. We anticipate that this carries through the Inquiry process and will be challenging the inquiry legal team if this is not the case. However, there will be no pressure for people who do not want to be very involved.

 

Q. If we're granted Core Participant status what will be required of us, as the families?

A. The Chair has yet to decide this, and this will be a topic for discussion in a future webinar. We will be in touch when we have plans set in place.

 

Q: Do you need to have your loved ones hospital records to participate as a Core Participant?

A: No, this is a personal decision if you wish to obtain the medical records, At this stage we dont require medical records as the inquiry wont look at individual cases.

 

Q. Will individual family members be given an opportunity to give evidence at the Inquiry?

A. We would hope so. It would be a contradiction of all proper principles that should be applied (about putting families and the bereaved at the heart of the process) if family members were not able to give evidence in person. However, it is ultimately up to the Chair of the Inquiry to determine how the process will unfold. The fact is that we'll only know for sure after a lot of work has been done and submissions made on behalf of the bereaved. As a legal team we will be working tirelessly to make sure the Inquiry represents the best interests of all the families that are involved. Please also be aware that inevitably it will not be possible for every family member to give formal evidence. The listening exercise may go some way towards addressing that, but the details have not yet been finalised.

 

Q: Do we have to pay to be a Core Participant?

A; Absolutely not. You can instruct us to be your legal representation free of charge. If Core Participant status is granted, you will be participating in this Inquiry with absolutely no cost to you.