Lord Brailsford ‘presses reset button’ on Covid-19 inquiry
SCOTTISH families who lost loved ones to Covid have met with the new chair of Scotland’s troubled inquiry into the pandemic.
Lord Brailsford spent two hours talking to the Scottish members of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group yesterday.
Aamer Anwar, the solicitor who is representing the group, “welcomed the genuine empathy and compassion that Lord Brailsford showed them today as they as they told him their heartbreaking stories”. He added: “The families recognise the mammoth task that is faced by Lord Brailsford, but believe that he has pressed the reset button on the Scottish inquiry and were heartened to learn he hopes to commence hearings in 2023.”
It has been nearly a year since the inquiry was set up, yet it still has not had any hearings.
The appointment of Lord Brailsford follows the shock resignation of Lady Poole in October.
She stood down citing personal reasons. Four lawyers working on the inquiry also unexpectedly quit shortly after.
Mr Anwar said families believed there had been a shift in tone.
He said an initial meeting with Lady Poole had not been “happy.”
“The families felt that they didn’t get the compassion and empathy they wanted, they didn’t think they were front and centre,” he said said.
The lawyer added that the meeting yesterday “felt like a very different experience”.
Peter Mcmahon, a member of the group agreed.
He said their meeting with Lady Poole felt like a “box-ticking exercise”.
“We all felt like we weren’t being listened to. She listened to the stories but she wasn’t taking anything in,” he said.
Mr Mcmahon said the meeting yesterday was a “different kettle of fish” and said Lord Brailsford showed empathy and compassion.
“A much better meeting today and we have gone away with a bit more confidence, and he has told us that the work that Lady Poole and her team had carried out up to this point … that’s not going to be in vain, they are going to use that going forward. And simple things like, they have actually got premises set up that Lady Poole never even achieved … in the months that she was in the chair.”
The inquiry, which has cost more than £2 million so far, has 12 terms of reference, including the decision to lock down, and the other restrictions put in place by the government.
Lord Brailsford will also look at the transfer of residents to or from care or nursing homes, as well as the treatment and care of residents.