Must see: The Covid Contracts, ITV. Exposes corruption & profiteering that led to 1000’s of deaths, including my mum who died of covid because her wonderful carers had inadequate PPE. Thank you @russellscott1.bsky.social et al. @cbffjuk.bsky.social @longcovidjustice.org

The Covid Contracts: Follow the Money, which aired last night on ITV, is a shocking and important film. It exposes the extent of the corruption and profiteering during the pandemic and shows how the rich and powerful saw the crisis as an opportunity to profit and took it. 1/2

For decades, victims of the state have been denied truth, accountability and justice, because the Government has been able to hide evidence and cover up its mistakes. We’ve been honoured to be part of the calls for this to change through a Hillsborough Law.

👀Pleased to have met with Pat McFadden MP and @abenaoppongasare.bsky.social to discuss Govt progress on @cbffjuk.bsky.social recommendations on pandemic preparedness. See blog below on how we've changed Government policy, and what still needs to happen 👇

Last week, we met with Pat McFadden MP and Abena Oppong-Asare MP, who lead the government’s response to the Covid Inquiry, to discuss progress on our recommendations. Here is what has been done so far, and what still needs to happen: www.covidfamiliesforjustice.org/blog/from-gr...

The Care module of the Covid Inquiry has shown that reform of the care sector cannot wait. If there were another pandemic today, the care sector would be in a WORSE position than in 2020. These are the key recommendations which we believe the Inquiry must make: 🧵 1/7

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 16. Just the 2 witnesses being called today. Prof. Sir Michael McBride (Chief Medical Office for Northern Ireland) Robin Swann MP (Former Minister of Health for Northern Ireland)

🚨 This Saturday, our co-founder Matt is taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for our campaign. We rely on small donations to continue the fight for truth and accountability. Chip in if you can: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/going-up-n...

Care Homes were put under 'intense pressure' to 'make their contribution' by admitting covid-positive patients from the NHS. Important evidence today at the Covid Inquiry from Cathie Williams on behalf of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services.

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 15. We have 4 witnesses today: Prof. Sube Banerjee MBE (Expert in Dementia) 10 minutes to ask approved questions. Cathie Williams (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) 8 mins to ask approved questions.

Speaking truth to power at #covidinquiry: Thank you Alasdair Donaldson for continuing to support research into impact of covid on care homes despite Govt trying to stop it. Research showed death rates much higher than official figures. @cbffjuk.bsky.social #academicsky

Jeane Freeman, ex-Scottish Health Secretary, BLAMES care homes for thousands of Covid deaths after infected patients were sent in. She says care homes didn't understand infection prevention. The reality: care homes lacked PPE, testing, and means to isolate residents properly.

"Generational Slaughter" Kate Stone questions former member of Adult Social Care Policy team on behalf of @CovidJusticeUK. Alasdair Donaldson discusses the decision to discharge NHS patients into care homes and the 'generational slaughter' that resulted: youtu.be/bBYNCrlDrS4?...

The Government tried to BLOCK a study which revealed the true scale of deaths in care homes during the pandemic. Shocking evidence from Alasdair Donaldson at the Covid-19 Inquiry this morning.

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 14. 3 witnesses today: Alasdair Donaldson (Former member of Adult Social Care (ASC) Policy team). We have been granted 5 minutes to ask him approved questions. Kate Stone will be the advocate

👀 My friend @mattc19bffjuk.bsky.social is climbing the Yorkshire 3 peaks this Saturday to raise money for @cbffjuk.bsky.social to continue our campaign to ensure we’re better prepared for the next pandemic. Please consider donating 👇🏻

"Discharges from hospital into the community to increase NHS capacity had been a huge success" This is what then Care Minister, Helen Whately MP, said in a meeting on 7th April 2020. Meanwhile, Care home residents were dying as a result of that policy.

Dr Phil Hammond reveals in Private Eye that CATA (the Covid Airborne Transmission Alliance) is threatening to take the UK Government to Court for a judicial review. Pre-action protocols require the parties to attempt to resolve their issues out of Court.

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 13. We will hear from 3 witnesses today Prof. Sean Holland (Department of Health, Northern Ireland) Nicola Dickie (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) Nadra Ahmed CBE (National Care Association)

"There's only so long I can keep saying to the Social Care sector we are working on it without losing all credibility". A message from the then Social Care Minister, Helen Whately MP, to Matt Hancock, about the failure to supply care homes with PPE. The protective ring in action.

A "breach of rights" and a "fundamental failure of Government". This is how Caroline Abrahams CBE, of Age UK has described the government's decision to discharge Covid patients into care homes during the pandemic. Nobody has yet taken responsibility for that deadly policy.

A senior clinician had to step in so an older person with a routine respiratory issue could get hospital care. Matt Hancock told families care homes were protected, while knowing older people were being denied treatment simply for living in one. Shocking evidence at Covid Inq today from Age UK.

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 11. 3 witnesses today: Caroline Abrahams CBE (Age UK) We have been grated 6 minutes to ask approved questions. Emily Holzhausen CBE (Carers UK) Our application to question this witness has been refused.

So, during #covid a govt official didn’t want to ‘transfer the risk to the centre’ by supporting local council contingency plans for the care sector. Reminder: this is the Dept of Health AND SOCIAL CARE guys. @cbffjuk.bsky.social

In the third wave of Covid, a senior DHSC official said “risk to the centre” had to be considered before supporting council contingency plans. While people were dying, the focus was on avoiding blame. At the Covid Inquiry today, Sajid Javid, admitted this wasn’t a 'valid concern'.

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 9. 4 witnesses today. Dr Jane Townson OBE (Homecare Association) Sir Sajid Javid (Former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) Heléna Herklots CBE (Former Older People’s Commissioner for Wales)

Powerful & deeply shocking evidence at #covidinquiry about misuse of ‘do not resuscitate’ orders. Many of our members experienced similar. #covidinquiry must ensure this blatant discrimination stops. @cbffjuk.bsky.social

During the pandemic, Susan Lyons was asked to sign a 'do not resuscitate' order for her daughter, Sarah. Sarah was in her 20s and received care due to epilepsy and learning disabilities. Susan spoke about her experience at Covid Inquiry, on behalf of John's Campaign ⬇️

1/3 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 8. 4 witnesses today. Dr Chris Llewelyn (Welsh Local Government Association) Our application to question his has been refused. Prof. Ian Hall OBE (Social Care Working Group) We have been granted 6 minutes to ask him approved questions.

My mum was one of these deaths. She contracted covid from her wonderful carers who had totally inadequate PPE (1 thin medical mask per 8hr shift) in Jan 21. This ‘generational slaughter’ must never happen again. We must get prepared for the next pandemic now. @cbffjuk.bsky.social #covidinquiry

More shocking evidence about Hospital discharges at the Covid Inquiry. NHS England felt the 'balance' should be about reducing the risk of care homes NOT taking back untested NHS Patients. Care Homes were to be told they could only refuse patients in 'extreme cases'.

Disabled people were 6x more likely to die during the pandemic than people without disabilities. Work needs to be done now to ensure that when the next crisis hits, everybody has access to the support they need. Thank you, Chris Bloore MP, for raising this with the government.

Thank you, Johanna Baxter MP, for raising the lack of co-operation between the UK Gov and Scottish Gov during the pandemic. The Covid Inquiry has previously heard how the UK Gov instructed PPE suppliers to prioritise English NHS settings over Scotland. Lessons must be learnt.

"It's very unlikely that anyone receiving care in a care home or the community will become infected". That was the government-issued advice to Care providers in February 2020. Just weeks later, the first Care Home residents would begin to die from COVID-19.

Deaths in domiciliary care rose by 225% during the pandemic, an even steeper increase than in care homes. Yet those delivering that care were left to purchase masks from Etsy and were given guidance unfit for care provided at home. Important evidence at Covid Inquiry ⬇️

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 7. Big day today as we will be hearing from Prof. Susan (Covid isn’t airborne) Hopkins CBE (on behalf of UK Health Security Agency) and Prof. Dame Jenny (testing is for other countries) Harries (Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England)

At 12:30, Pat McFadden MP will give a statement in Parliament on the Government's Resilience Action Plan and the progress made against the recommendations of the Covid Inquiry. The Government must act now to save lives when the next crisis hits. Watch here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Trying to get Matt Hancock to specify what protection was included in the "protective ring" he claimed was placed around care homes. For some reason he found it difficult to say ... @bjcsolicitors.bsky.social represent @cbffjuk.bsky.social

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 6. Four witnesses today. Julie Parkinson (National Association of Care and Support Workers) Kevin Mitchell (Care Inspectorate Scotland) Prof Fu-Meng Khaw (Public Health Wales) Christina McAnea (Trades Union Congress)

'This may sound like dancing on the head of a pin...' Quite. @cbffjuk.bsky.social @hpiandycowper.bsky.social

Today at the Inquiry, Mary Cridge of the Care Quality Commission, was pressed to explain why the CQC appeared to back guidance that put Covid-positive patients in care homes during the pandemic. Mary explained that the CQC logo wasn’t on the front of the guidance; it was in the annex.

1/3 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 5 and we will hear from the following 3 witnesses: Mary Cridge (Care Quality Commission). We have been granted 10 minutes to ask her approved questions. These will be asked by Anna Morris KC.

Trying to get Matt Hancock to concentrate on what's important eg over 43,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in care homes across the UK. Matt Hancock: they were quite rude about me and they continue to be rude about me. Pete Weatherby KC: Well, let's not worry about that

This week, Matt Hancock told the Covid Inquiry that discharging untested NHS patients into care homes saved lives. Our member Jean Adamson spoke to Channel 5 News to react to that testimony and share the story of her Dad, Cleo, who died in a care home. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rfN...

The Inquiry has heard more disturbing evidence about a blanket 'do not resuscitate' policy for anybody over 70 in care homes. Letters were sent by GPs, "essentially telling people that they will be left to die". #CovidInquiry

The Inquiry has heard important evidence from Prof Rayner, on behalf of the National Care Forum, that advice issued to the care sector by the Government during the pandemic was inadequate, inaccurate and unsuitable. Yet more evidence that the Care Sector was an afterthought.

1/2 Covid Inquiry Module 6 Day 3. Today we will hear from 3 witnesses: Dr Ruth Allen (British Association of Social Workers) We have been granted 10 minutes to ask her approved questions. Peter Wilcock KC will be asking these questions on behalf of CBFFJ UK and NI.

For Matt Hancock When you are being asked about the lie regarding the "protective ring" resulting in the deaths of thousands of care home residents, it's not a good look to attack their bereaved families. I look forward to you recanting the statement and issuing us all an apology

Matt Hancock has repeatedly refused to explain to the Inquiry what 'protection' he was referring to when he described a 'protective ring' around Care Homes. The truth is, there was no protective ring. Care home residents and staff were abandoned, with deadly consequences.