“Not too late to commit to a Wales specific covid inquiry” -and more reaction to first pandemic report

The Senedd will now consider if there were any gaps in yesterday’s report into the UK’s covid response, amid calls for a Wales-specific Covid Inquiry.

Yesterday we reported on the critical report that found that the UK was underprepared for the pandemic, and Wales had a “labyrinthine” system.

The report noted, “For an administration that prided itself on its efficiency of movement because of its relative lack of scale, and which had described itself as operating, effectively, ‘under one roof’, the reality did not match the rhetoric”.

First Minister Vaughan Gething ‘welcomed’ the report, adding, “The publication is an important moment for Welsh families bereaved by Covid-19, and for the frontline staff who worked so hard during the pandemic to keep us all safe.

“Five witnesses from the Welsh Government, gave oral evidence over a number of days last year. We also submitted thousands of documents to the Inquiry for this Module.

“The report highlights many recommendations relevant to Welsh Government and our partners. We will now study the report in detail and respond fully to the Inquiry on each of these.

“We welcome the Report’s recommendations and look forward to working together in equal partnership with the UK and other Devolved Governments in responding to them. We have always been committed to open and constructive work with the other governments of the UK and look forward to building on this in response to the report.

“We thank Baroness Hallett and her team for their work and for today’s report. The Welsh Government continues to engage positively with all the remaining inquiry work being undertaken, including document disclosure, statements, and oral evidence as required.

“The Senedd COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee will now scrutinise the report and propose to the Senedd by motion any gaps identified in the Inquiry’s report into preparedness and response that it believes should be subject to further examination. This is a parliamentary function for the Senedd to consider.”

Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies MS said: “It’s abundantly clear from this report that Labour ministers were out of their depth and had no idea of the state of Wales’ pandemic readiness.

“The evidence heard revealed the Labour Welsh Government to be wholly unprepared and lacking a plan.

“We need a Wales-specific Covid Inquiry to rectify these blatant errors.”

Sam Rowlands MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister added:

“This report is a damning indictment of Labour’s handling of the pandemic.

“The UK Inquiry is clear, advice not being taken from as far back as 2003, undue complexity and a failure to create a compact system for decision making hampered the Labour Welsh Government’s pandemic response here in Wales.

“The Inquiry was patently not convinced by some of the evidence given. Only through a Wales-specific Inquiry can we ensure that these lessons are learned and we are prepared for future public health emergencies.”

Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS said: “This is a damning report which exposes serious and significant failings on the part of the Labour Welsh government.

“The report will make difficult reading for covid bereaved families and our thoughts are with them today.

“A picture of over complex structures, lack of accountability, important work left unfinished and a general feeling of unwarranted over-confidence in preparedness plans is laid out in stark terms by Baroness Hallett.

“It is of deep concern to read that some of the lessons have not been learned.

“The Welsh government should not only admit to its significant failings but commit to implementing the recommendations of module 1 in full with a detailed plan to ensure that Wales will never be as underprepared for a pandemic ever again. It is also not too late to commit to a Wales specific covid inquiry, which is the ultimate way to hold the Welsh Government must be accountable for all of its decisions.”

Public Health Wales responded, “The Covid-19 Public Inquiry Module 1 final report, which examines resilience and preparedness for the pandemic across the four UK nations, was published today.

“Public Health Wales would like to express its gratitude to Baroness Hallett and the Public Inquiry team for their thorough and diligent work.

“We are committed to continuous improvement and learning from past experiences to better protect the health and wellbeing of the people of Wales. We will now carefully review the Module 1 findings and recommendations, as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance public health protection, preparedness and resilience in Wales, and look forward to working with the Welsh Government and partners across Wales and the wider UK in the implementation of the recommendations.

“We recognise the profound impact the pandemic has had on so many people, and our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to those who lost loved ones, friends and colleagues, and those who continue to suffer from the effects of the pandemic.”

(Top pic, a pop up testing centre in Wrexham during the pandemic)