Launch of the UK COVID-19 inquiry

In May 2021, the prime minister announced that there would be an official inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 28 2022, he accepted the terms of reference for the COVID-19 inquiry. This means it has now been formally established under the Inquiries Act 2005 and can officially begin its work.  

In response, Sir Andrew Goddard president of the RCP said: “We’re pleased that the Terms of Reference for the UK COVID-19 inquiry have been set so it can officially begin its important work. 

“This inquiry is crucial to identify learnings and recommend changes so we can better prepare and manage crises in the future. There are many lessons to learn from the pandemic – including why some groups were much more affected than others - so it is particularly welcome to see the inquiry framed around this unequal impact. The most vulnerable in our society bore the brunt, widening health inequalities that had already existed for too long. That cannot be allowed to happen again. 

“We surveyed our members throughout 2020 and 2021 to understand the impact of the pandemic on them and their ability to deliver healthcare. We charted everything from healthcare workers’ access to PPE and testing in early 2020 to the mental health impact of working under pandemic pressures. We look forward to sharing this wealth of data with the inquiry.”