Covid inquiry: Families unhappy with Welsh government

A woman who lost three relatives to Covid says there is "great concern" over the Welsh government's participation in a public inquiry.

Miranda Evans, from Bridgend, said documents should have been shared "a lot quicker" to ensure Welsh stories were heard at the Covid public inquiry.

Solicitor Craig Court claimed the Welsh government failed to deliver crucial paperwork as soon as it should have.

The Welsh government said it would not comment as proceedings were under way.

A UK-wide inquiry, which will start on Tuesday, could go on as long as three years, and will predominantly look at the UK government's approach to the pandemic.

A Wales-specific inquiry was blocked by Labour members of the Senedd, with First Minster Mark Drakeford saying it should wait until after the UK-wide investigation had been completed.

Ms Evans, whose grandmother, uncle and aunt died from the virus in hospitals, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that people were awaiting the inquiry with "great interest" and a desire to have their voices heard.

"We missed out a huge amount of time with our families when they needed us the most," she said.

"People have been sharing stories across the country so we really hope they will have a significant impact and help to change policy and practice for the future."

Mr Court, who represents the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru group, said there was "a great concern over the duty of candour" displayed by the Welsh government, which had not participated "as well as it should have".

He said the worries stemmed from the "very late disclosure" of documents from the government, which made preparations for the Tuesday inquiry difficult.

Mr Court said it had not produced all their documents "as soon as they should have".

"We are still getting documents [and], as of today, we're still not in receipt of some key Welsh evidence. We have been told we will continue to get documents up to and including the hearing," he said.

Ms Evans, who is not part of the group represented by Mr Court, added: "I would have expected papers to be forwarded a lot quicker than that to ensure that evidence from Wales is actually fed into the inquiry."

Mr Court conceded some delays were to be expected due to a "demanding schedule" set by the head of the inquiry.

But he said: "This is something they have been aware of for 18 months."

Mr Court, of Harding Evans solicitors, said he and his team are working to process "the tens of thousands of documents", to be "as best prepared for the weeks to follow".

He said "there might not be as much of a focus on Wales as families would like" in the UK-wide inquiry, but there was hope more answers would emerge for families from a Wales-specific portion of the investigation due in spring 2024.

"The inquiry is going to go on for a number of years yet," he said.

"Undoubtedly it's going to be a very emotional and difficult time for [the families]."

Mr Court said the Welsh government was underprepared for the pandemic, with exercises carried out in the years prior "often not heeded".

"The NHS in Wales was significantly underprepared for these sort of instances," he said.

"There was an ageing NHS estate, buildings that weren't fit for purpose, lots of recommendations made over the years for things to improve and change that just simply weren't done.

"So what the families are really hoping for is that the issues that have been identified are acted upon, so that there is a better system in place should we be in the unfortunate position of the having the same sort of thing again in the future."

Ms Evans said proper scrutiny of decisions made at both Welsh and UK level was paramount for families.

Welsh Conservative shadow health minister, Russell George MS said: "A lack of candour, late disclosures and a failure to deliver crucial paperwork by the Labour government in Wales - that isn't my testimony, that is the assessment of the bereaved families' solicitor.

"The Labour government worked to block an independent Wales-specific Covid inquiry, but have now agreed to a halfway house committee thanks to Welsh Conservative pressure."

The Welsh government said: "We will not be commenting on any matters relating to the inquiry as proceedings are now under way.

"We have made it clear that we continue to engage fully with the inquiry to ensure all actions and decisions are fully and properly scrutinised."