The UK Covid-19 Inquiry will place the adult social care sector under intense scrutiny when its highly anticipated public hearings commence next week, marking a critical moment for the industry that bore the brunt of the pandemic’s impact.
The hearings will take place from Monday 30 June – Thursday 31 July 2025 at Dorland House in London, representing the most comprehensive examination to date of how government decisions affected care homes, domiciliary care providers, and the vulnerable residents they serve.
Module 6 of the Inquiry will cast a spotlight on both publicly and privately funded adult social care across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The investigation promises to deliver uncomfortable truths about government decision-making during the crisis, including the controversial restrictions that separated families and isolated vulnerable residents.
The hearings will delve deep into the consequences of policy decisions on those living and working within care settings, examining how hospital capacity pressures affected care home residents and analysing the sector’s preparedness for such an unprecedented health emergency.
A particular focus will be placed on infection prevention measures implemented across care settings and whether the sector possessed adequate capacity to respond effectively to the pandemic challenge.
As core participants in module 6, the Homecare Association, National Care Forum, and Care England will play pivotal roles in the proceedings, alongside other major stakeholders including the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Local Government Association (LGA), and the Care Quality Commission.
These Core Participants hold significant powers within the inquiry process, including access to crucial evidence, the ability to deliver opening and closing statements, and opportunities to suggest lines of questioning that could shape the investigation’s direction.
The Inquiry has committed to full transparency, with a livestream of this hearing available on their homepage and YouTube channel from Monday 30 June. All sessions will be open to public attendance, ensuring maximum scrutiny of the proceedings.
This represents a watershed moment for the care sector, which lost thousands of residents during the pandemic’s early waves while facing severe challenges including PPE shortages, testing delays, and controversial hospital discharge policies.
The outcomes of Module 6 are expected to inform the Inquiry’s final recommendations to government, potentially leading to significant changes in how adult social care is regulated, funded, and supported during national emergencies.
The public hearings for Module 6 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry will run from Monday 30 June to Thursday 31 July 2025 at Dorland House, London. Live coverage will be available via the Inquiry’s official website and YouTube channel.
