The Covid Inquiry Podcast

Baroness Hallett delivers her report on the rollout of Covid vaccines. Jim Reed reports.

Baroness Hallett delivers the third of the Inquiry's reports, this one covering the impact on the NHS of the pandemic. She concludes that healthcare systems in the UK only just survived and the impact on staff and patients was devastating. Jim Reed reports.

The public hearings in the Covid Inquiry finish with an exploration of the the impact of the pandemic on a range of areas - from mental health services to homelessness. In sometimes distressing testimony, families who lost loved ones explain the impact of not being able to hold full funerals or wakes for them. Jim Reed reports.If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline

The Covid Inquiry hears evidence from Rishi Sunak. The former prime minister served as chancellor during the height of the pandemic and was behind measures such as furlough. He told the Inquiry the government's support for self-employed workers was "imperfectly targeted" but "generous". Ben King reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes evidence on how the Treasury responded to the start of the pandemic and the imposition of lockdown. One of the key witnesses giving evidence was Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey. Theo Leggett reports.

The Covid Inquiry hears how - as covid infections spread rapidly across the country - the Government designed a furlough scheme and intervened to support businesses. With evidence from Dr Tim Leunig, described as the economic architect of furlough, and former ministers in the Scottish and Welsh governments. Theo Leggett reports.

The Covid Inquiry begins a new module looking at the impact of the pandemic on the UK economy. In its first week of evidence the Inquiry hears about the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) - more commonly known as furlough - and how it operated. Theo Leggett reports.

Baroness Hallett, Chair of the Inquiry, delivers her second report into the way the four governments of the UK responded to the pandemic. Summarising her conclusions as 'too little, too late', she outlines a failure by each government "to appreciate the scale of the threat or the urgency of the response it demanded". Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes its final week of evidence into how the pandemic affected children and young people. Among those appearing at the Inquiry are former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chief Medical Officer for England Sir Chris Whitty, and former Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford. Vanessa Clarke reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes evidence on how and when decisions were taken to close schools during the pandemic. Gavin Williamson, then England's Education Secretary, describes how his department interacted with Number 10. This episode contains some strong language. Vanessa Clarke reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes a second week of evidence on how children and young people were affected by the pandemic. This week, Alison Morton from the Institute of Health Visiting describes the impact of stopping home visits to new parents, and how staff were redeployed. There is also evidence from Chief Nursing Officer for England Duncan Burton, Scottish First Minister John Swinney, and representatives of schools with high numbers of disadvantaged students. Vanessa Clarke reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes evidence in a new module studying the impact of the pandemic on children. Among those appearing this week was the former Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield. Vanessa Clarke reports.

The Covid Inquiry reaches its last week of evidence on the impact of the pandemic on adult social care. Lady Justice Hallett hears from members of the disabled community who reflect on what it was like as visitation rules were tightened and – in some cases - PPE was not available. Families of those who died during the pandemic describe the distressing moments of saying goodbye over a mobile phone. Divya Talwar reports.

In its penultimate week looking at social care, the Covid Inquiry hears from the former health ministers of Northern Ireland and Scotland, examining the decision made in the early part of the pandemic to release hospital patients back into care homes. The Inquiry also hears from former senior civil servant Alasdair Donaldson, who describes “complete chaos” in the Department of Health and Social Care in April 2020. The government has said it is committed to learning lessons from the inquiry. Divya Talwar reports.

The Covid Inquiry continues to hear evidence about how social care settings were affected during the pandemic. This week former social care minister Helen Whately describes her concerns around visiting policies in place at the time, as well as the controversial decision to release individuals from hospitals into care homes. The Inquiry also hears from Sir Sajid Javid, former Health Secretary, on mandatory vaccinations for care home staff. Divya Talwar reports.

The Covid Inquiry continues taking evidence on how Covid 19 spread in care homes, examining the decision-making around rapid release of elderly patients from hospital in March 2020. Evidence is taken from Dame Jenny Harries, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Mary Cridge, Director of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission and Christina McAnea, General Secretary of the trade union Unison. Divya Talwar reports.

In the first week of a new module looking at social care during the pandemic, the Covid Inquiry takes evidence from care home workers and the families of some of those who died. One of the main witnesses, giving evidence for the final time, is former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who answers criticism of his use of the phrase 'protective ring' when describing how care homes were treated. Divya Talwar reports.A warning - some of the testimony is very distressing, with a reference to suicide. If you've been affected by the issues raised, you can contact the BBC's Action Line at bbc.co.uk/actionline

In the final week of this part of the Inquiry we hear testimony from scientists involved in test and trace and public health officials running contact tracing on the ground.

The inquiry hears more about test and trace & whether the UK is prepared for another pandemic. With evidence from former health secretary Matt Hancock, former chief scientific advisor Lord Patrick Vallance and former First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry begins looking at the £30 billion pounds spent on the Government's efforts to test, trace and isolate those who tested positive during the pandemic. With evidence from Sir Paul Nurse, from the Francis Crick Institute, Professor Naomi Fulop from UCL and Professor Alan McNally from the University of Birmingham. Jim Reed reports.

In the final week of the module on procurement, the Inquiry hears from those trying to ensure that Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland had enough PPE, and why they didn't use high priority lanes, as England did. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry holds its first private session behind closed doors as it takes evidence about the company PPE Medpro – linked to Baroness Michelle Mone and her husband. In the open hearings, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock describes how he and others in the Department tried to secure enough PPE for the NHS. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes evidence on how some offers of PPE were placed in a higher priority route, and the role politicians and government officials played in procurement. One of the main witnesses is Michael Gove, Minister for the Cabinet Office at the time, who argues that much of the newspaper commentary around the 'so-called PPE scandal' was 'politically motivated bilge'. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry begins its fifth module, looking at how the government bought medical supplies like PPE and ventilators during the pandemic. In this first week of evidence the Inquiry hears about the creation of a so-called 'VIP' lane for some companies. Jim Reed reports.

In the final week examining the rollout of vaccines, the Covid Inquiry hears about how those in government attracted manufacturers to the UK, and whether the country has prepared enough for a future pandemic. With evidence from former minister and now Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, Dame Emily Lawson who led the initial vaccine rollout, and Dr Clive Dix, Deputy Chair of the Vaccine Task Force. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes a second week of evidence about the rollout of vaccines, hearing from Dame Kate Bingham, who chaired the Vaccine Taskforce, Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, and Sir Jonathan Van Tam, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry was back this week after a short break in hearings, to begin taking evidence about the vaccine rollout and the development of drugs to treat the disease. Jim Reed reports.

This week the Covid Inquiry concluded its module looking at the way the NHS handled the pandemic. Sir Sajid Javid, who was Health Secretary from 2021, gave evidence on the decisions made around mandatory vaccinations of frontline staff. The week ended with testimony from bereaved families, with a focus on the restrictions placed on hospital visiting hours. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry takes evidence on the state of the NHS during the pandemic, with testimony from former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, and former Scottish Health Minister Jeane Freeman. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry hears evidence about bed capacity during the pandemic. Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, explains the decision to open Nightingale Hospitals and their limitations. Jim Reed reports.

The Covid Inquiry continues its examination of the way that the NHS responded to the pandemic. This week Justice Hallett heard from Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England, and Jenny Harries, the former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, along with senior frontline staff. Jim Reed reports.

Jim Reed reports on another week of evidence at the Covid Inquiry. This week the focus was on those who were shielding during the pandemic and the experience of people with learning disabilities.

The Covid Inquiry looks at how maternity services operated during the pandemic, as well as the experiences of ethnic minority healthcare staff and those shielding. Later in the week Justice Hallett heard testimony about the difficult choices made in intensive care, and the lasting impact on the people who made them. Jim Reed reports.

Jim Reed reports from another week of evidence at the Covid Inquiry. This week the session was shortened by illness - but in evidence given by paramedics, intensive care doctors and other frontline staff, the Inquiry heard about the difficult decisions made during the height of the pandemic.

Jim Reed reports from another week of evidence at the Covid Inquiry. This week senior health leaders described the scenes in intensive care units across the country, as frontline staff struggled through shortages of protective clothing and bed space. Alongside Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, the Inquiry heard from Professor Kevin Fong, former national clinical adviser in emergency preparedness at NHS England.

The public inquiry into the pandemic continues to take evidence about how the NHS responded - including crucial decisions over nursing ratios and prohibiting families from visiting patients. Jim Reed reports.

The public inquiry into the pandemic starts 10 weeks of hearings looking at the impact on patients, healthcare workers and the wider NHS. Jim Reed reports.

Baroness Hallett finds 'fatal strategic flaws'

In its final week of hearings in Belfast, the Covid Inquiry hears from First Minister Michelle O'Neill, former First Minister Baroness Foster, and former civil servant Sue Gray.

The Inquiry hears from politicians who worked in Stormont during the pandemic, and how one event led to deeply fractured relationships. Jennifer O’Leary reports.

The Covid Inquiry moves to Belfast for three weeks of hearings about decision-making in Northern Ireland. Jennifer O'Leary reports.

As the Covid Inquiry moves to Belfast, Jim Reed talks to the BBC's Ireland correspondent Jennifer O'Leary about what to expect, as she takes over the podcast for three weeks.

In the final week of hearings in Cardiff, First Minister Mark Drakeford gives evidence to the Covid Inquiry. Hywel Griffith reports.

Hywel Griffith reports from week 2 of the Welsh Covid Inquiry hearing from senior civil servants and special advisers on the confusion during the first few weeks of the pandemic.

The Covid Inquiry takes its first week of evidence in Cardiff, beginning with a focus on the loss of bereaved families. Hywel Griffith reports.

As the Covid Inquiry moves to Cardiff, Jim Reed talks to the BBC's Wales correspondent Hywel Griffith about what to expect, as he takes over the podcast for three weeks.

The Covid Inquiry concludes its Edinburgh hearings, with evidence from Scotland's former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and UK cabinet minister Michael Gove. Lorna Gordon reports.

The Covid Inquiry hears its second week of evidence in Edinburgh, with questions over the deletion of Whatsapp messages. Lorna Gordon reports.

The Covid Inquiry holds its first week of evidence in Edinburgh. Lorna Gordon reports.

As the Covid Inquiry moves to Edinburgh, Jim Reed talks to the BBC's Scotland correspondent Lorna Gordon about what to expect, as she takes over the podcast for 3 weeks.