UK Covid-19 Inquiry

The Academy has been engaging with, and contributing to, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. The Inquiry has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of, the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as identify lessons for the future. Due to the large scale and scope of the Inquiry, it has been split into 'modules' each exploring its own set of issues. Each module is set up like an individual inquiry, with its own legal team.

For the first module, exploring the preparedness of the UK for the pandemic, the Academy has submitted a written statement. In that statement, we outline our engagement with the Government prior to, and during the pandemic, made observations on the issues of testing capacity and arrangements and public health and emergency planning preparedness, as well as set out some actions, based on our July 2020 paper 'Preparing for COVID-19 surges and winter', for how the UK can prepare for future emergencies.

The module that the Academy will be most involved in is the third, exploring the impact of the pandemic on health systems. This module has only just opened, and we expect the full public oral hearing to begin in Autumn 2024. We are a Core Participant in this module, meaning that not only will we be submitting evidence in relation to these issues, but we will also have the opportunity to put questions to other witnesses, make general submissions to the Inquiry on legal and procedural matters as well as evidential, have the opportunity to make an opening statement, and have sight of all the relevant disclosure including reports, meeting minutes, emails, policy documents and memos.

The aim of the Inquiry is not to only create a factual account of what happened in the lead-up and during the pandemic, but also to provide lessons for preparing for future emergencies. We are privileged to be involved in this process.