The Module 6 report from the Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Rt Hon the Baroness Hallett DBE, describes the Government’s treatment of adult social care as an “afterthought” and details multiple failures to protect care homes.
Garden Court barristers Amanda Weston KC and Thalia Maragh represented core participants including frontline migrant care workers and bereaved families.
Amanda questioned key witnesses including former Health Secretaries Matt Hancock, and Sir Sajid Javed and Care Minister Helen Whately.
Garden Court’s Joanne Cecil KC and Natasha Shotunde were instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry, and have questioned witnesses including Prof. Sube Banerjee MBE (Expert in Dementia), Cathryn Williams (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) and Alwyn Jones (Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru) respectively.
Over 43,000 Covid related deaths occurred in care homes between March 2020 and July 2022. The Inquiry rejected as ‘unfounded’ Mr Hancock’s claim that a “protective ring” was placed around care homes at the outset of the pandemic, pointing out the reverse was true
Amanda’s questioning of Mr Hancock scrutinised the risks posed by lack of Statutory Sick Pay which left care workers, particularly migrant care workers on whom the care sector heavily relies, unable to afford to self-isolate, increasing the risk of infection among vulnerable care recipients.
The Inquiry’s report has now addressed this issue directly, recommending that financial support arrangements for adult social care workers needing to self-isolate should be established in advance of any future pandemic.
- Read: COVID Module 6 Report – Care Sector, Rt Hon the Baroness Hallett DBE, Chair of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry
- Watch: Amanda Weston KC question former Care Minister Helen Whately MP
- Watch: Amanda Weston KC question former Secretary of State for Health Matt Hancock
- Watch: Joanne Cecil KC and Natasha Shotunde leading impact witnesses
- Watch: Joanne Cecil KC and Natasha Shotunde act as counsel to the Inquiry
Amanda Weston KC represented Frontline Migrant Health Workers Group, comprised of United Voices of the World and Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, instructed by Joe Latimer and Alisha McSporran of Public Interest Law Centre.
Thalia Maragh acted for UK Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, instructed by Broudie Jackson Canter Solicitors.
Joanne Cecil KC and Natasha Shotunde were instructed as Counsel to the Inquiry.
Garden Court Chambers is ranked as a leading set by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for Inquests and Inquiries.
Press Coverage:
- Matt Hancock’s care home protective ring claim ‘unfounded’, Covid report finds – ITV News
- UK government failures led to Covid spreading ‘like wildfire’ in care homes, inquiry finds – The Guardian
- Care home residents were sacrificed to save NHS during Covid pandemic, damning inquiry report finds – The Independent
