Covid Inquiry highlights weaknesses in Wales’ early planning
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has published its findings on political decision-making during the pandemic, concluding that early planning in Wales was inadequate and that ministers were too reliant on UK Government assessments at a crucial stage.
The report says delays in responding to the growing threat contributed to serious pressures once Covid reached Wales.
The Inquiry found that governments across the UK acted “too little, too late”, resulting in the first national lockdown becoming “inevitable”.
For Wales, the findings point to weaknesses in early 2020, including what the report describes as an “absence of any real strategy” in the weeks before the virus was identified in the country.
The Inquiry says Welsh ministers relied heavily on assessments from the UK Government without fully considering the specific risks facing Wales.
The report concludes that during the autumn and winter of 2020 Wales recorded the highest age-standardised mortality rate of the four nations.
It states that decisions taken in the final months of that year were the “likely” reason for this outcome.
According to the Inquiry, failed local restrictions, the timing of the so-called ‘firebreak’, and relaxing measures faster than some scientific advice recommended all contributed to the pressures on the population.
Although the report notes that the Welsh Cabinet operated as a largely effective and inclusive decision-making structure, it describes an urgent need for clearer systems for emergency planning and better coordination across the UK.
It also highlights a lack of trust between the UK Government and devolved nations, which it says affected joint working during a period that required clarity and consistency.
Campaigners
Campaign groups John’s Campaign and Care Rights UK, who gave evidence during the Inquiry’s Wales hearings, said the findings reflected the harm caused when listening did not translate into action.
They warned that the experiences of vulnerable people were not properly considered as decisions were being made.
The two groups said the report shows how inconsistent communication and a lack of preparedness contributed to distress for families and to failings in social care.
In a joint response they said the Inquiry demonstrates that decisions were often taken without a full understanding of how they would affect people receiving care, their relatives, and frontline staff.
They stressed that many individuals were left without support when restrictions were introduced and that existing human rights protections were not always applied in practice.
Julia Jones from John’s Campaign said: “From the earliest days of the pandemic, government policy-making was flawed. Firstly, by a fundamental failure to trust and level with the public. Secondly, by a basic, and often startling, ignorance of key facts and a failure to consult stakeholders with real-life expertise and then act on what they were being told. Thirdly, by a failure to abide by essential principles of pre-existing legislation such as that enshrined in the Human Rights and Equality Acts.”
“While we welcome the Inquiry’s identification of these and many other key issues and the clarity of Baroness Hallett’s indictment of policy failures, we are somewhat disappointed by the absence of specific, doable recommendations to remedy these in future and mitigate the avoidable harm and deep suffering still being experienced by many individuals and families today.”
Helen Wildbore, Chief Executive of Care Rights UK, said: “Recognising the impact that poor political decision-making had on individuals is an essential moment in this public inquiry. Implementation of the Chair’s recommendations will be essential for rebuilding public trust, and we hope that in future we can see greater transparency and co-production with people impacted. When legislation set out to protect people’s rights fell away during the pandemic, we saw the confusion transpire in dangerous policy decisions. Human rights must be the foundation of future government decision-making in times of crisis to ensure that people are put first.”
The Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, James Evans MS, said: “These findings prove we still need a Wales-specific independent inquiry. The report found, at times, there to be an ‘absence of any real strategy’ pursued by the Welsh Government. This requires further investigation.”
Heledd Fychan MS of Plaid Cymru said bereaved families still do not have the answers they need. She said: “This report is a stark reminder of the human cost of the pandemic here in Wales. Bereaved families still don’t have the answers they need or deserve. This report and the wider inquiry does not and cannot give them that clarity or comfort.”
The Welsh Government said it would study the findings carefully.
First Minister Eluned Morgan MS said the government was committed to understanding the issues raised and would work with the UK and devolved administrations on the recommendations.
She said: “The pandemic had a profound impact on everyone in Wales. We recognise the immense loss and suffering experienced by bereaved families and all those whose lives were changed by Covid. Our thoughts remain with them.”
“The report describes in detail the pandemic response in Wales and across the UK. Publication of this extensive report represents a further important step towards understanding and learning lessons from the Welsh Government’s response, the UK Government and other devolved governments, and other parts of the public sector.”
“We will carefully consider the Inquiry’s findings and recommendations.”
“I will make an oral statement on the Module 2ABC report in the Senedd on 25th November 2025.”
Public Health Wales said it welcomed the report and would consider its recommendations in detail, adding that it would continue to learn from its experience of the pandemic.
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