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The UK public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic, chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, concluded its latest round of hearings with a firm defence of the inquiry’s duration and expense. Despite criticism over the inquiry costing more than £200 million and taking nearly four years, Baroness Hallett described completing the hearings within this timeframe as “an extraordinary achievement.” The inquiry was formally launched in 2022, with witness testimonies beginning in June 2023, examining the pandemic response across all four nations of the UK.
Baroness Hallett addressed skeptics who question the necessity of the inquiry, saying that once the public becomes familiar with the suffering documented and the inquiry’s findings, they will understand the scale of the crisis and the rationale behind its establishment. She emphasized that the inquiry has handled an enormous volume of material, reviewing over 600,000 documents and hearing from more than 350 witnesses. The chair also highlighted the importance of acting on the recommendations put forward to better prepare for any future pandemics.
Looking ahead, Baroness Hallett plans to release eight additional reports covering topics such as the NHS, vaccines, testing and tracing efforts, the impact of the pandemic on children, and social care. This reporting phase is expected to continue into the first half of next year. Earlier publications have already addressed pandemic planning before 2020 and assessed the conduct of the UK government and the devolved administrations during the pandemic’s most critical periods.
The inquiry’s financial investment includes the inquiry’s £200 million cost plus an estimated additional £100 million from government departments supplying documents and other evidence. Acknowledging the high costs and lengthy process, Baroness Hallett affirmed, “I said at the outset that this inquiry would cost a lot of money and take time. It has done. But I genuinely believe it has been worth it.” Meanwhile, a parallel inquiry led by Lord Brailsford operates in Scotland and is expected to publish its own series of reports and hearings on pandemic responses later this year
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