Summary

  • Northern Ireland's chief medical officer tells the UK Covid-19 inquiry that the collapse of power-sharing government up to 2020 had a significant impact

  • Prof Sir Michael McBride also says there were "very significant staffing problems" during the pandemic

  • Sir Michael was one of the key figures in implementing Northern Ireland's response to the pandemic

  • The inquiry is focusing this week on Northern Ireland and its preparedness in the run-up to the pandemic

  • Over the coming days it is due to hear from former NI first and deputy first ministers Baroness Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill

  • Northern Ireland had 5,308 Covid-related deaths during the pandemic, according to government data

  • Last week, former NI health minister Robin Swann told the inquiry the lack of reform and investment in the health service had hindered the pandemic response

Live Reporting

  1. Who is Sir Michael McBride?

    Sir Michael McBridePA Media

    Sir Michael McBride is Northern Ireland's chief medical officer (CMO), a post he has held for almost 17 years.

    A CMO is the most senior government adviser on health matters and Sir Michael is one of four people who hold the position across the UK.

    He advises the Northern Ireland Executive at Stormont, while his CMO colleagues advise the UK government at Westminster; the Scottish government and the Welsh government.

    The married father-of-four, originally from north Belfast, studied medicine at Queen's University, Belfast.

    By 1994, had become a senior doctor specialising in HIV medicine.

    Immediately before his appointment as CMO, Sir Michael held the post of medical director at the Royal Group of Hospitals in Belfast - home to Northern Ireland's regional trauma unit.

    In March 2020, Sir Michael played a leading role in Northern Ireland's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, advising Stormont ministers on unprecedented public health restrictions including lockdowns.

    The following year, in the 2021 Queen's birthday honours list, he was given a knighthood for services to public health in Northern Ireland.

  2. NI's chief medical officer to appear shortly

    In about 10 minutes or so Prof Sir Michael McBride will be before the UK Covid inquiry - we'll have text coverage of everything he says plus you can watch live at the top of this page by clicking on the Play button.

    His testimony is part of a week in which the inquiry is heavily focused on Northern Ireland's pandemic response, with former first and deputy first ministers Baroness Foster and Michelle O'Neill due to appear tomorrow.

  3. Welcome to our live stream

    Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the UK's Covid inquiry, on the 17th day of public hearings.

    This phase is one of six and is examining how prepared the UK was for the pandemic.

    From 10:00, we're expecting to hear from Dr Claas Kirchhelle, a lecturer at University College Dublin with expertise in the history of pandemics and vaccines.

    From 14:00, Northern Ireland's chief medical officer Prof Sir Michael McBride is expected to speak.

    We will begin text coverage of this afternoon’s hearing at 14:00, but you can watch this morning’s proceedings live at the top of this page by clicking the Play button.

    Read more about the Covid inquiry in our explainer here.