Covid Inquiry: Care Homes Were an 'Afterthought' in Pandemic Response

Today, the latest report from the Covid-19 Inquiry found that action to protect the social care sector came too late, with government failings helping create conditions in which the virus could “spread like wildfire” in care homes. The report describes social care as an “afterthought” in the early pandemic response, highlighting a lack of planning, testing and protective equipment. Adam is joined by the BBC’s social affairs editor, Alison Holt, to unpack the findings, discuss the impact on families, and consider what needs to change. The inquiry's conclusions are a damning indictment of the government's handling of the crisis in care homes. This episode of BBC Newscast provides a thorough analysis of the report, its implications, and the lessons that must be learned to prevent similar failures in the future.