More details at People’s Covid Inquiry
Governments and public trust: a public covid inquiry that reported quickly could shape response to the third wave
John Puntis, Tony O’Sullivan in BMJ
Godlee says that it takes both time and hard work to regain lost trust. The prime minister has committed to preparing for a public inquiry into the pandemic next year, promising it will be fully independent and have “the ability to compel the production of all relevant materials and take oral evidence in public, under oath.”
The People’s Covid Inquiry,3 4 under the chairmanship of Michael Mansfield QC, has just finished hearing testimony from 41 people including experts such as Michael Marmot and David King, as well as citizen witnesses. These are now available through the inquiry website,4 and summary recommendations and a detailed report will be available in the coming months.
It is clear, however, that public health measures are still urgently needed ifcommunity transmission is to be eliminated and further restrictions prevented.5 Thesemustinclude adequate support for those testing positive or asked to isolate, and optimisation of ventilation in schools and workplaces.6
There are important lessons to be learnt now rather than after the next election when some recommendations may no longer be relevant. We note that many recent inquiries (Al-Sweady, Chilcot, Saville) have taken up to 12 years to produce a final report. Such time scales are too slow to shape the government’s response to the developing third wave of this pandemic or to ensure further surges from new variants are avoided.
An independent and judge led statutory public inquiry with a swift interim review would yield lessons that can be applied immediately.7 One example is the Taylor inquiry into the Hillsborough football stadium disaster, wheninterim findings were delivered in 11 weeks, allowing safety measures to be introduced ahead of the next football season. It can be done—and surely this is the least that is owed to all those who have been bereaved.
Competing interests: We are co-chairs of Keep Our NHS Public. Full response at: http://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1472/rr-0 . 1
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Cases of covid delta variant in UK rise over 75 000: PHE data. Guardian 2021 June 18. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/18/cases-of-coviddelta-variant-in-uk-rise-over-75000-phe-data.
Booth R. English councils refuse six in 10 requests for covid self-isolation pay. Guardian2021 June 18. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/18/english-councils-refuse-six-in-10-requests-for-covid-self-isolation-pay.
Goodman J, de Prudhoe K, Williams C. Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. UK covid-19 public inquiry needed to learn lessons and save lives. Lancet2021;397:177-80. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32726-4 pmid: 33357492
This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.
Godlee F. Governments should be made to work harder to keep public trust [Editor’s choice]. BMJ2021;373.
Allegretti A, Walker P. Boris Johnson: inquiry into covid response will start in spring 2022. Guardian2021 May 12. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/12/boris-johnson-inquiry-into-handling-ofcovid-crisis-will-start-spring-2022.
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John Puntis: We need a people’s covid-19 inquiry now. BMJOpinion2021 Feb 24. https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/02/24/john-puntis-we-need-apeoples-covid-19-inquiry-now.
People’s Covid Inquiry. http://www.peoplescovidinquiry.com.
Leeds Keep Our NHS Public 