- Wales Covid-19 Review Panel to be free from government
direction over approach, findings or conclusions and led by an
independent chair.
- Review will focus on health and adult social care, assessing
whether recommendations from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, committee
reports and resilience exercises have been implemented.
- Review to conclude by March 2029.
An expert-led independent Wales Covid-19 review will assess
whether Wales' ability to respond to a future pandemic or
national emergency has been strengthened.
Announcing the review in the Senedd, the Cabinet Minister for
Government Effectiveness and the Constitution, said it will be
proportionate and targeted to provide independent assurance that
lessons have genuinely been learned and acted upon in Wales.
Set to complement the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry, it will focus
on health and adult social care, services that were central to
the nation's pandemic response and frequently raised as matters
of deep concern by bereaved families and others significantly
affected.
The review will be led by independent chair, Professor Daniel
Wincott from Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics, and
will be supported by an Assurance Panel which will include
individuals with expertise in healthcare systems, social care and
public health.
The panel will make best use of the substantial evidence already
collected by the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry including findings,
published reviews, and other relevant work to recognise progress,
confront shortcomings and make sure Wales is better prepared for
the future.
The Chair of the Panel, Professor Daniel Wincott said:
"The Covid-19 pandemic touched every individual and community in
Wales. Many people are still living with its consequences today.
As its Chair, I am committed to the independence of this Review,
which will be conducted by a panel of experts. The Review will
assess the pandemic in Wales specifically, identify and address
gaps in the evidence about the Welsh experience, and
learn lessons for the future.
The review will assess whether UK Covid-19 Inquiry
recommendations, committee reports and resilience exercises have
been implemented. Where evidence is insufficient or gaps remain,
the panel will be able to examine issues in greater depth and
identify what more needs to be done.
Ensuring that lived experiences will be heard and fully
reflected, the Cabinet Minister said:
We owe it to everyone in Wales affected by the pandemic, and
especially to those who lost loved ones, to examine what happened
honestly and to make sure the lessons learned are seen and felt
in how our public services plan and prepare for the future.
Whilst the UK Covid Inquiry has now reported on several modules,
this new government will honour its commitment to ensure that
aspects either unique to Wales or particularly acute in Wales are
appropriately explored.
Published and documentary evidence cannot, on its own, convey the
experiences of those affected. I will therefore ask the panel to
consider how best to ensure citizens' voices inform its work and
help it judge whether improvements are making a difference in
practice.
The findings of the review will help to inform future pandemic
preparedness in Wales, foster greater transparency and
accountability, and ensure that lessons are learned from this
distressing and challenging period.
That is how we will honour all those affected by the pandemic and
build a safer, more resilient Wales for the future.
The Panel will be reporting publicly and proceeding in stages,
reflecting the UK Inquiry's reporting schedule and the review
aims to conclude by March 2029.
