The government has published the draft terms of reference for the inquiry into the response to the pandemic across the four nations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which includes the response of the health and social care sector:
• Preparedness, initial capacity and the ability to increase capacity, and resilience
• Management of the pandemic in hospitals, including infection prevention and control, triage, critical care capacity, the discharge of patients, the use of ‘Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR) decisions, the approach to palliative care, workforce testing, changes to inspections, and the impact on staff and staffing levels
• Management of the pandemic in care homes and other care settings, including infection prevention and control, the transfer of residents to or from homes, treatment and care of residents, restrictions on visiting and changes to inspections
• Procurement and distribution of key equipment and supplies, including PPE and ventilators
• Development and delivery of therapeutics and vaccines
• Consequences of the pandemic on provision for non-Covid related conditions and needs
• Provision for those experiencing long-Covid.
The inquiry will be chaired by the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE and one of the aims is to identify the lessons to be learned and thereby inform the UK’s preparations for future pandemics.
