Brenda Campbell KC delivers closing statement in Module 3 of the Covid Inquiry
Brenda Campbell KC, representing families who lost loved ones to Covid-19 has informed the UK Covid Inquiry that it is “a sobering reality” that almost five years after the start of the pandemic, little has changed in Northern Ireland.
Brenda Campbell KC called on Northern Ireland’s leaders to “commit to working with the bereaved and all those affected to ensure lasting change.”
She made the statement during her closing remarks for module three of the inquiry, which examined the pandemic’s impact on healthcare systems across the UK.
Brenda emphasized that it should not be up to the bereaved, disabled, or migrant workers to continue pushing for change, stating that “the solution must come from within.”
‘Cannot achieve that alone’
“The Covid bereaved in Northern Ireland are steadfast in their dedication to ensuring that the legacy of those we’ve lost is a brighter future for those who remain,” she said. “But they cannot do this alone.”
Brenda questioned whether the future is any better for long Covid sufferers and, importantly, if a pandemic hit again tomorrow, would the outcome for the bereaved be any different?
She expressed hope that one of the inquiry’s recommendations would focus on communication. She noted that bereaved families repeatedly asked what lessons had been learned and how things could be done better.
Brenda also pointed out that those in power were often not present during the inquiry and that bereaved families were left hoping that those who could implement lessons learned would at least pay attention to the livestream or review the transcript.
‘A distinctly lopsided presence’
Brenda criticized the Department of Health’s previous closing statement, where it was suggested that “the evidence was partly wrong, misunderstood, or needed to be refuted,” leading to the familiar “finger-pointing” between the Department and the Public Health Agency regarding what was known or should have been known. However, she stressed that the purpose of the inquiry was not to assign blame.
Covid-19 was an “entirely novel and unprecedented virus,” and she acknowledged that people were “striving to do their best, even if with hindsight, it was clear that things could have been done better.”
Brenda stated: “At this point, post-pandemic, there must be clear evidence of reflection and efforts toward meaningful change. Yet, the lack of reflection and lessons learned in the evidence from Northern Ireland is glaring.”
She added that she meant no disrespect to the chair of the inquiry, Baroness Hallett, or her team, but concluded that “there is little that this module can offer us.”
“The issues within the NI healthcare system are too broad, pervasive, and systemic, and the time and scope of this module were necessarily limited,” she said.