Today the UK Covid-19 Inquiry opens its sixth investigation: the Care Sector across the UK (Module 6). Public hearings are planned for Spring 2025.
Module 6 will investigate the impact of the pandemic on the publicly and privately funded adult social care sector in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It will consider the consequences of government decision-making – including restrictions imposed – on those living and working within the care sector, as well as decisions concerning capacity in hospitals and residents in adult care and residential homes.
It will also address the steps taken in adult care and residential homes to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and examine the capacity of the adult care sector to respond to the pandemic. More details are included in the provisional scope for Module 6, which is published on the Inquiry website.
The Core Participant application window will be open from 12 December 2023 to 19 January 2024.
A Core Participant is an individual, organisation or institution that has a specific interest in the work of the Inquiry.
Core Participants can access evidence relevant to this investigation, make opening and closing statements at Inquiry hearings and suggest lines of questioning.
The Inquiry is aiming to hold preliminary hearings for Module 6 in early 2024.
The hearings will take place at the Inquiry’s Hearing Centre, Dorland House, London. All hearings are open to the public to attend. Information on how to attend can be found on the website.
At preliminary hearings, the Inquiry Chair makes decisions about how investigations will run. The Inquiry does not hear evidence at these hearings. There will be submissions from the Counsel to the Inquiry and Core Participants to help prepare for the public hearings, where evidence is heard.