COVID Inquiry: new Terms of Reference

After giving extensive feedback on the initial Terms of Reference for the UK COVID Inquiry, we are pleased to see some of our recommendations taken on by the Inquiry's Chair, Baroness Hallett - a former appeal court judge.

After the public consultation, the new scope of the Inquiry's investigation makes clear reference in the 'workforce testing in the social care sector' section to "infection prevention and control" (P12).  

Most importantly for our profession, the IBMS and the rest of the public were heard with regard to the need to analyse the government's use of the available pool of experts and data when planning the COVID-19 response. A new bullet point has been added to address "the role of experts, advisers, science and data in informing the government’s pandemic response" (P13).

The Terms of Reference do not set out an exhaustive list of every issue that will be addressed but offer broad subjects of concern. This means it is especially important that "the availability and use of data, research and expert evidence" is referenced directly.

We hope that the subject will now get the full attention it deserves and that the government will learn about the availability of advice, expertise and capacity that was available to them in the existing network of diagnostic laboratories - and will benefit from this in any future pandemics.

IBMS Chief Executive David Wells commented:

The COVID-19 Inquiry will be far-reaching so it was important that we sought to ensure that the experience of our members was a central part. I am pleased that we have been listened to on this point and that changes have been made to the Inquiry’s scope. The scope still does not go far enough to answer all the questions we might have and we will continue to push for our members' voice to be heard.

The Prime Minister will now consider the recommendations in the new Terms of Reference and then confirm the final Terms of Reference, so that the Inquiry can begin its work in earnest.