Covid Inquiry to Publish Major Report on Pandemic’s Impact on Adult Social Care
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is due to publish its report examining the impact of the pandemic on adult social care Later today (Tuesday, October 20), with its findings expected to address the decisions and circumstances that left care services facing unprecedented challenges.
The sixth report in the inquiry’s programme, known as Module 6, examines the effects of the pandemic on people receiving care in residential settings and their own homes, as well as the experiences of those working across the sector. It also considers the preparedness of adult social care and the consequences of government decisions during the crisis.
The inquiry’s investigation follows a period in which care providers, residents, families and staff faced significant pressures, including the risk of infection, restrictions on family visits and concerns over access to adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Among the issues under scrutiny are the arrangements for discharging patients from hospitals into care settings, the measures introduced to limit the spread of Covid-19, and the impact of restrictions that prevented many residents from seeing relatives and friends.
The use of do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR) decisions has also been a matter of concern during the pandemic, raising important questions about individual rights, clinical judgement and the need to ensure that decisions are made on an appropriate, person-centred basis.
The report follows public hearings held in 2025, during which witnesses provided evidence about the experiences of care home residents, their relatives and care workers, alongside the decisions taken by those responsible for the pandemic response.
Former health secretary Matt Hancock defended his actions during the crisis, describing the circumstances facing decision-makers as exceptionally difficult.
For bereaved families, the publication represents an important opportunity to establish what happened, examine how decisions were reached and identify the changes needed to protect vulnerable people in future emergencies.
A spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said the inquiry must lead to meaningful improvements, arguing that the pandemic exposed longstanding weaknesses in the support and preparation available to adult social care.
The group has called for the findings to provide clear accountability and ensure that lessons are translated into practical measures, rather than remaining recommendations without lasting effect.
The report is expected to contribute to the wider debate about the status of adult social care within the UK’s emergency planning arrangements and the resources required to protect people who depend on care and support.
