The Covid Inquiry Podcast

The Covid Inquiry takes evidence in a new module studying the impact of the pandemic on children. Among those appearing this week was the former Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield. Vanessa Clarke reports.

The Covid Inquiry reaches its last week of evidence on the impact of the pandemic on adult social care. Lady Justice Hallett hears from members of the disabled community who reflect on what it was like as visitation rules were tightened and – in some cases - PPE was not available. Families of those who died during the pandemic describe the distressing moments of saying goodbye over a mobile phone. Divya Talwar reports.

In its penultimate week looking at social care, the Covid Inquiry hears from the former health ministers of Northern Ireland and Scotland, examining the decision made in the early part of the pandemic to release hospital patients back into care homes. The Inquiry also hears from former senior civil servant Alasdair Donaldson, who describes “complete chaos” in the Department of Health and Social Care in April 2020. The government has said it is committed to learning lessons from the inquiry. Divya Talwar reports.

The Covid Inquiry continues to hear evidence about how social care settings were affected during the pandemic. This week former social care minister Helen Whately describes her concerns around visiting policies in place at the time, as well as the controversial decision to release individuals from hospitals into care homes. The Inquiry also hears from Sir Sajid Javid, former Health Secretary, on mandatory vaccinations for care home staff. Divya Talwar reports.

The Covid Inquiry continues taking evidence on how Covid 19 spread in care homes, examining the decision-making around rapid release of elderly patients from hospital in March 2020. Evidence is taken from Dame Jenny Harries, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Mary Cridge, Director of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission and Christina McAnea, General Secretary of the trade union Unison. Divya Talwar reports.

In the first week of a new module looking at social care during the pandemic, the Covid Inquiry takes evidence from care home workers and the families of some of those who died. One of the main witnesses, giving evidence for the final time, is former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who answers criticism of his use of the phrase 'protective ring' when describing how care homes were treated. Divya Talwar reports.A warning - some of the testimony is very distressing, with a reference to suicide. If you've been affected by the issues raised, you can contact the BBC's Action Line at bbc.co.uk/actionline

In the final week of this part of the Inquiry we hear testimony from scientists involved in test and trace and public health officials running contact tracing on the ground.

The inquiry hears more about test and trace & whether the UK is prepared for another pandemic. With evidence from former health secretary Matt Hancock, former chief scientific advisor Lord Patrick Vallance and former First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry begins looking at the £30 billion pounds spent on the Government's efforts to test, trace and isolate those who tested positive during the pandemic. With evidence from Sir Paul Nurse, from the Francis Crick Institute, Professor Naomi Fulop from UCL and Professor Alan McNally from the University of Birmingham. Jim Reed reports.

In the final week of the module on procurement, the Inquiry hears from those trying to ensure that Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland had enough PPE, and why they didn't use high priority lanes, as England did. Jim Reed reports.