DHSC accepts restrictions caused ‘profound pain’, Covid Inquiry hears
Fiona Scolding KC, representing the Department of Health, said the Government was often faced with a choice between ‘hugely unpalatable options’.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Department of Health has accepted pandemic restrictions caused “profound loneliness, pain and anguish” as it told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry it would not argue it got “everything right” in its response.
Fiona Scolding KC, a lawyer representing the department, said the Government was often faced with a choice between “hugely unpalatable options” and decisions were “finely balanced”.
She asked the inquiry to bear in mind the context in which the department was making policy decisions, which she accepted “with the benefit of hindsight” may have been different.
Ms Scolding told Wednesday’s hearing: “The department recognises the strength of feeling among some that certain of the decisions made by us were wrong. For example, some people feel lockdown should have been introduced earlier and for longer; others hold an opposite and contrary view.
The department will not seek, during the course of this inquiry, to say that it did everything right
“What the department was often faced with was a choice between a series of hugely unpalatable options, all of which were certain to have negative impacts on the citizens of the United Kingdom in one way or another.
“Decisions were often extremely finely balanced. Contrary decisions could rationally have been made, resulting in a very different set of outcomes.
“The department will not seek, during the course of this inquiry, to say that it did everything right, or that it would necessarily have made the same decisions today in 2023 with the benefit of hindsight.”
Ms Scolding acknowledged that rules imposed by the department to curb the spread of the virus had taken a “profound” toll on families and friends who were isolated.
“The department recognises that the guidance it put in place often meant that family and friends were unable to see their loved ones for long periods of time, causing profound loneliness, pain and anguish, the effects of which still endure for many today,” she said.
The pandemic era was an “all-consuming period akin to a war” which is reflected in Government decision-making from the time, Ms Scolding told the inquiry.
“Guidance, support, equipment, services and policies during the pandemic was a Herculean task and was the greatest challenge ever faced by the NHS and adult social care sector,” she said.
“You will hear the department referring to various documents as battle plans and operations precisely because it was an all-consuming period akin to a war.”
It is clear that Brexit preparations were the reason why the work of the UK's pandemic influenza review board was substantially paused in 2018
It comes after lead lawyer to the inquiry Hugo Keith KC told its opening on Tuesday that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) may not have been “very well prepared” for the pandemic.
A Government preoccupation with planning for departure from the EU may have “crowded out” the work needed to respond to the health emergency, he suggested.
Links were again drawn between Brexit and the pandemic on Wednesday, with a lawyer for the Welsh Government suggesting the UK’s pandemic influenza review was paused in 2018 because of withdrawal preparations.
Andrew Kinnier KC said: “The extent to which Brexit-related preparation and planning consumed the attention of all four Governments in the UK from 2017 cannot be underestimated.
“It is clear that Brexit preparations were the reason why the work of the UK’s pandemic influenza review board was substantially paused in 2018.”
The inquiry will be split into six areas, with the first looking at whether the UK was adequately prepared for the pandemic.
Interim reports are scheduled to be published before public hearings conclude by summer 2026.
A separate Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry chaired by Lord Brailsford is looking at the pandemic response in devolved areas in Scotland.