Covid Inquiry Report Finds Government’s Pandemic Response Was ‘Too Little, Too Late’

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has published its Module 2 report, examining political decision-making and governance during the pandemic. The findings are sobering – and particularly relevant for organisations like BCOP that provide care for older people.

The Inquiry concluded that the UK Government’s response to the emerging crisis was “too little, too late”, with serious consequences for older and vulnerable people. The report highlights that:

• Older people were not adequately considered in early pandemic planning.
• There was insufficient representation of adult social care experts in key decision-making bodies.
• The Government failed to act quickly enough, even when informed by clear data and frontline evidence.
• A narrow focus on hospital care meant care homes and community-based services were overlooked.
• Communications and guidance for social care were confusing and poorly timed, with a heavy impact on the people who rely on these services.

The summary also underscores how the voices of families, care workers, and residents themselves were not heard early enough or clearly enough in shaping the response. For care homes, this meant rapidly changing rules, PPE shortages, and heartbreaking isolation for residents and families alike.

A response from Vic Rayner, CEO of the National Care Forum (NCF)

Vic Rayner, who gave evidence as a core participant in later stages of the Inquiry, said:

“The publication of the Covid Inquiry’s Module 2 report has found that the government did ‘too little, too late’. It also uncovered that older people and disabled people were not adequately considered in pandemic planning or decision making.

The evidence I gave in Module 6 showed that the UK government received a huge amount of information and expertise from the NCF and our members – directly from the frontline. These were real-time warnings about the risks facing social care.

Throughout the pandemic, there was a worrying lack of understanding of adult social care by policymakers. Guidance was often ill-fitting because it focused narrowly on care homes, ignoring the diversity of services and people we support.

The failure to listen to provider representatives and experts in adult social care had devastating consequences. ‘Too little, too late’ represents lives that could have been saved if frontline expertise had been heard – particularly in early 2020.”

She added:

“While this report focuses on political and administrative decision-making, we must remember the extraordinary efforts of care and support staff. Their work is the backbone of communities, families, and the nation’s health and wellbeing. We forget that at our peril.”

Read more about

Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 – Summary Report - view the government’s summary of findings here

Vic Rayner’s full response - read the NCF statement here

The National Care Forum (NCF) website - https://www.nationalcareforum.org.uk