Health workers tell the UK's Covid-19 inquiry there was a lack of support at the start of the pandemic
In a video shown to the inquiry, one GP says she was going to work exposed to Covid "every day... but we had nothing. There was no support at all"
A consultant says he and others felt "very vulnerable" as the pandemic spread
A new phase of the inquiry, examining the impact on patients, healthcare workers and the wider NHS, began this morning
Poet Michael Rosen recalled his Covid treatment - saying he was given a 50-50 chance of survival in intensive care
Watch the inquiry live by pressing watch live at the top of the page
We'll soon be hearing from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group, who are doing a news conference ahead of the inquiry today.
The group, which represents more than 7,000 relatives, says it is “deeply worried” that only two of the 23 witnesses it has put forward have been called to appear.
Stay with us as we bring you the key lines.
Image source, EPAToday marks the beginning of the third phase of the Covid inquiry out of nine.
Part one looked at the UK’s resilience and preparedness for the pandemic, while part two looked at core UK decision-making and political governance.
Inquiry chair Baroness Hallett has handed down one report with findings already. In it, she found significant flaws in the UK’s pandemic planning meant Covid caused more deaths and economic costs than it should have.
The report said the UK planned for the wrong pandemic – a mild one where spread of a new virus was inevitable - and this led to the UK turning to “untested” lockdowns.
Image source, Piranha PhotographyBaroness Hallett promised the inquiry would be 'thorough and fair'
The Covid-19 inquiry was set up to look at how coronavirus affected healthcare systems across the UK.
The inquiry, launched by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in June 2022, involves public hearings, during which key people like government officials, scientists, doctors and other people involved give evidence.
Johnson’s announcement of the inquiry came after the campaign group, Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, said it was considering launching a judicial review over government "time-wasting".
It is headed by chair Baroness Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge.
She said the inquiry would consider how decisions on limiting the spread of Covid were made and communicated, and the use of lockdowns and face coverings.
No-one is found guilty or innocent but the inquiry publishes conclusions and recommendations, which the government is not obliged to accept.
You can read more about it here.
Aoife Walsh
Live editor
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage, as the Covid-19 inquiry enters its third phase.
Over the coming weeks, the inquiry will examine the impact the pandemic had on patients, healthcare workers and the wider NHS.
It will also look at the use of masks and PPE in hospitals, the policy of shielding the most vulnerable and the treatment of long Covid.
For the first time, more than 30,000 personal stories from healthcare staff, patients and relatives will form part of the evidence heard.
However, campaigners have expressed concern over what they see is a lack of representation of bereaved families.
Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK, which represents more than 7,000 relatives, says it is “deeply worried” that only two of the 23 witnesses it has put forward have been called to appear.
We'll hear more from them at about 09:30 BST, and we'll be bringing you live updates and analysis from the inquiry when it begins an hour after.