A Bolton woman who tragically lost her father and grandmother to Covid-19 hopes that ‘lessons will be learned’ following the inquiry.
Families who lost loved ones during the pandemic have highlighted the “loss of life at an unprecedented, avoidable scale” after an official inquiry published its report into political decision-making during the crisis.
The second report of the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry sets out how lives could have been saved and lockdowns may have been avoided if different decisions had been taken.
Baroness Heather Hallett’s report on the government response to Covid accused former prime minister Boris Johnson of being too “optimistic” in his outlook in the early months of 2020.
And she said his special adviser, Dominic Cummings, used “offensive, sexualised and misogynistic” language as he “poisoned” the atmosphere in Downing Street.
The inquiry found that the first and second lockdowns of the pandemic were not inevitable, but the government was left with no choice after failing to implement measures, such as social distancing and household quarantine earlier.
Not imposing any lockdown at all when it became apparent there was no choice would have “led to an unacceptable loss of life”.
However, bringing in lockdown a week earlier, on March 16, would have cut deaths in the first wave to July “by 48 per cent – equating to approximately 23,000 fewer deaths” in England, according to modelling, the report said.
Elaine Nuttall, from Morris Green in Bolton, lost her father Frank Nuttall and grandmother Hilda Lee during the pandemic.
Discussing the results from the inquiry, she told The Bolton News: “It really saddens me to know that maybe if something more had been done, I might not have lost my dad and my nan.
“My dad went into hospital and we never saw him again.
“Then we lost my nan just five days later.
“We couldn't be with our loved ones, as we were following the government's rules, while they were partying.
“Everybody suffered throughout Covid, it was awful and devastating.
“But we can’t change what happened, even though I wish we could.
“My dad was the most amazing man in the world and hearing the news from the inquiry was upsetting.
“If actions had been taken sooner, maybe my loved ones and others might still be alive.
“If something like this happens again, I hope that lessons have been learned.”
Elaine also spoke about the National Covid Memorial Wall and said “it means the world” to her that the government has pledged to permanently preserve it.
“I know it’s only a little thing, but it’s got my dad and nan’s names on it,” said Elaine.
“I would like to thank everyone who’s been involved in looking after the wall, I would love the opportunity to go to London and see it.”
After the report was published, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK campaign group was critical of the actions of Mr Johnson during the pandemic.
It said in a statement: “The evidence from the inquiry is clear, and while it is vindicating to see Boris Johnson blamed in black and white for the catastrophic mishandling of the pandemic, it is devastating to think of the lives that could have been saved under a different prime minister.
“We now know that many of our family members would still be alive today if it weren’t for the leadership of Boris Johnson and his colleagues.
“As the report has found, the government’s approach to the pandemic was undermined from the beginning – if Johnson had listened to scientific advice and locked down even a week earlier, around 23,000 people could have been saved.
“Instead, throughout the pandemic, Boris Johnson put his political reputation ahead of public safety.
“He pandered to his critics when the UK needed decisive action. In delaying lockdowns he made them longer, more damaging to the economy and less effective.
“He ignored scientific advice that didn’t fit his agenda, and he ignored the impact of his decisions on the front line, repeating the mistakes of the first wave and prolonging the second.
“To make mistakes is human. To refuse to listen to frontline workers, vulnerable people, the insights of devolved leaders or scientific experts is unforgivable.
“The same arrogance that led those at the heart of government to hold parties while many of us died and grieved alone shaped the government’s approach to the pandemic, and led to loss of life at an unprecedented, avoidable scale.”
The statement adds: “While we reflect and mourn what could have been, what extra years, days and hours we could have spent with our loved ones, we need to reflect on how we, the public, were left so vulnerable.
“We can’t just hope that we have better leaders in the future – the government must implement the safeguards recommended by the inquiry immediately, otherwise we are no safer now than we were during the darkest days in living history.”
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Brenda Doherty, one of the leaders of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK campaign group, said: “It is very much clear that this inquiry has been needed, to show why things need to change across the four nations.
“We as a society deserve so much better.”
“Our next big thing is to work with all administrations to ensure that these reports, which are heavy, are implemented.
“If they’re not, I want to know why, as do the families within our group that we represent.”
Ms Doherty, who lost her mother Ruth Burke, 82, to Covid-19, added: “I found today very emotional.
“If we had a lockdown a week earlier, people like my mammy would’ve been saved.”
She said: “Somewhere down the line in the future, if there will be a further pandemic, there will be no excuses.
“It is up to those who are paid to, to look after every single member of society.”
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