Scottish government criticised over care home Covid policy

1. The UK Covid inquiry is hearing its third day of evidence in Edinburgh
2. The inquiry, which is chaired by former judge Baroness Hallett, began on 28 June 2022
3. The inquiry covers decision-making during the pandemic by the UK government and in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
4. A separate Scottish Covid inquiry is also under way but will not sit at the same time as the UK inquiry
5. The inquiry is hearing evidence from Scottish Care, Cosla and a politics professor

Why are we having an inquiry?

The impact of the Covid pandemic is still being felt four years on from the first reports of the virus emerging from China.

Both the Scottish and UK public inquiries are investigating the response to the pandemic.

This includes looking at the impact of the pandemic, how decisions were taken and how policies were implemented.

The goal is to establish the facts of what happened then learn lessons for future public health emergencies.

Who will be giving evidence today?

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Today's evidence session is due to begin at 10:00.

First we'll hear from Prof Paul Cairney, a politics and public policy expert from Stirling University.

Then the inquiry will quiz Dr Donald Macaskill, chief executive of Scottish Care.

Scottish Care represents independent care homes throughout Scotland.

Dr MacAskill was a regular on BBC outlets throughout the pandemic calling for testing in Covid-free care homes.

He was very critical of both governments prioritising the NHS overcare homes.

He said the Scottish inquiry would have to consider the hospital discharge policy for untested patients going into care homes and the ability of those residences to support individuals who were asymptomatic and were therefore thought not to pose a risk to otherresidents.

This afternoon we'll hear from Nicola Dickie, from COSLA - the body representing all of Scotland's councils.

Her team is responsible for developing health and social care policy.

Here's a reminder of the headlines from yesterday...

Here's a recap of the major points to come out of the evidence on Wednesday 17 January:

• Disabled people were "imprisoned even before the pandemic", according to Inclusion Scotland
• The group's convener Dr Jim Elder-Woodward told the inquiry people with disabilities had to break shielding to get support

• Covid Bereaved Scotland (CBS) said there were concerns early in the pandemic about the ability of care homes to cope with discharged hospital patients
• Families "pleaded" with hospital bosses not to release their loved ones to free up NHS beds
• Political and medical decision makers were urged by CBS not to have "selective amnesia" when giving evidence
• The "disproportionate impact" of Covid on people and workers from BAME and disabled communities was highlighted
• Public Health Scotland accepted that there was a lack of data on at-risk or vulnerable groups - including ethnic communities - at the start of the pandemic
• The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said proper testing and workplace safety guidance were not in place early enough

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the UK Covid Inquiry which is taking evidence from witnesses in Edinburgh.

Former judge Lady Hallett will chair this third day of public hearings at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

We’ll bring you live reports, background and analysis of the proceedings.

If you want to watch live from about 10:00, stick with us and press the play icon at the top of the page.