TY - JOUR AU - Chakravorty, Indranil AU - Bamrah, JS AU - Chand, Kailash AU - Mehta, Ramesh PY - 2021/06/11 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Why We Must Learn The Lessons Now: A call for a truly independent public inquiry by the UK Government: Consensus from BAPIO Think-tank Focus Group JF - Sushruta Journal of Health Policy & Opinion JA - Sus VL - 14 IS - 2 SE - Policy DO - 10.38192/14.2.7 UR - https://sushrutajnl.net/index.php/sushruta/article/view/123 SP - 1-10 AB - <h2>The BAPIO Think-tank recommends that the Independent Inquiry establishes;</h2><ol><li>If the scientists did get the advice right (best practice at the time on protection, prevention of spread, detection of new cases, restriction of movement internal/external), and timely.</li><li>Whether the government adhered to its own mantra of ‘<em>following the science’</em> of acting on scientific evidence</li><li>If the policy effectively assessed the risk to and protected key workers, how should this be conducted in the future?</li><li>If the government had formed <em>‘a protective ring’ </em>for Care Homes and if the early policy of encouraging NHS Trusts to discharge patients without repeat testing, compromised the care of other residents and care, home workers,</li><li>If the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities and deprived communities was recognised in policy actions, so those at enhanced risk were appropriately prioritised if there was active engagement and co-designed provision of culturally appropriate timely information; if disinformation was tackled, and if there was an enhanced drive to vaccinate those at higher risk.</li><li>If there was recognition by the government of public health expert advice that a blanket national policy is ineffective. More local intelligence, engagement, and leadership should tackle the outbreaks seen in different regions.</li><li>If there was transparency and efficiency in the financial investment in tackling the pandemic - potential wastage and duplication from unusable PPE and the Nightingale hospitals), and the cost of private firms supplying testing, tracing and other equipment.</li><li>Urgently, the health–social care priorities for recovery; whether segregation of facilities, protected allocation of resources in dealing with non-Covid conditions,&nbsp; how the NHS might continue to function optimally in the event of a third or subsequent waves</li><li>If there is action on pressures on the NHS workforce, the impact on their morale, wellbeing and actions that are required to manage these in the future.</li></ol> ER -