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Covid inquiry families face uncertainty over resignations - Yousaf Bereaved families feel 'failed' by Covid inquiry
(about 3 hours later)
Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf says the government is working to appoint a new chair Helen Wightman died following a Covid outbreak in her care home in 2020
Bereaved families of Covid victims face "uncertainty" after resignations from Scotland's public inquiry, the health secretary has said. Bereaved families of Covid victims have said they already feel "failed" by Scotland's public inquiry amid a raft of resignations.
Humza Yousaf said the departures would "impact" relatives seeking answers.
The review's lead counsel and three junior counsels quit on Thursday, followed by the resignation of chairwoman Lady Poole on Friday.The review's lead counsel and three junior counsels quit on Thursday, followed by the resignation of chairwoman Lady Poole on Friday.
A lawyer representing bereaved families described the inquiry as a "sinking ship". One campaigner said relatives of people were worried about delays and that promises would be broken.
The inquiry insisted it was "continuing its important work".
Judge heading Covid-19 inquiry resigns from roleJudge heading Covid-19 inquiry resigns from role
The latest headlines from ScotlandThe latest headlines from Scotland
The Scottish Covid-19 public inquiry confirmed that four members of its legal team had stood down. Inquiry chair Lady Poole was also said to be leaving for personal reasons. The Scottish Covid-19 public inquiry confirmed that four members of its legal team stood down last week. Inquiry chair Lady Poole was also said to be leaving for personal reasons.
The review is yet to hold a session or set out the parameters of its investigation. The review, which was set up in December 2021, is yet to hold a session or set out the parameters of its investigation.
Mr Yousaf said it was up to the chair to determine the timescale of the process. Alan Wightman, whose 88-year-old mother Helen died in May 2020 during a Covid outbreak at her Fife care home, leads the Scottish chapter of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.
Responding to the resignations and the prospect of delays, Mr Wightman told BBC Scotland: "I'm disappointed that it has come to this because it felt to me for a long time now that that inquiry just wasn't making headway."
Alan Wightman: "We really feel we are being let down in Scotland."
Alan Wightman: "We really feel we are being let down in Scotland."
He said bereaved families had met Lady Poole in January, adding: "We were left with the distinct impression it was a tick-box exercise."
"There's been absolutely nothing - zero - ever since from Lady Poole and that doesn't fit with the promise that was made to us to be front and centre of the process."
Asked if he felt families had been failed by the inquiry, the campaigner replied: "I would have to say at the moment, yes I do because it has achieved absolutely nothing in the 10 months it has been in place, other than some consultation with the chair of the UK inquiry who knew what she was doing."
The review will look at the Scottish government's actions throughout the pandemic, from introducing lockdown to the delivery of testing and vaccines.
It will also focus on infection control in care homes, including the transfer of patients from hospitals.
Four lawyers have stepped down, and inquiry chairwoman Lady Poole has resigned for "personal reasons".
Mr Wightman said it was "ironic" that Scotland's inquiry was lagging behind the UK review despite being set up first.
The UK inquiry began with a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, although it will not hold public hearings until 2023.
"We had a big, big advantage over the UK," Mr Wightman told the BBC. "Scotland was leading the way and yet here we are running behind now."
Lawyer Aamer Anwar, acting for the Scottish branch of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, told BBC Scotland there was "dismay and anger" and branded the probe a "sinking ship".
Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said it was up to the chairperson to determine the timescale of the process, although he accepted the resignations would create uncertainty for bereaved families.
"It's not for me to tell a chair of an inquiry, look you have got to get a move on, start hearings here there on whenever," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme."It's not for me to tell a chair of an inquiry, look you have got to get a move on, start hearings here there on whenever," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme.
Four lawyers have stepped down after the resignation of the inquiry chair, Lady Poole, Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf says the government is working to appoint a new chair
The SNP minister continued: "Clearly the chair stepping down from the inquiry, and indeed some legal counsel choosing to do the same, is going to impact relatives.The SNP minister continued: "Clearly the chair stepping down from the inquiry, and indeed some legal counsel choosing to do the same, is going to impact relatives.
"They are going to have to questions. There is going to be a level of uncertainty."They are going to have to questions. There is going to be a level of uncertainty.
"Now it's incumbent on government to work of course with the Lord President to see if we can try to appoint another member of the judiciary to take Lady Poole's place.""Now it's incumbent on government to work of course with the Lord President to see if we can try to appoint another member of the judiciary to take Lady Poole's place."
The review will look at the Scottish government's actions throughout the pandemic, from introducing lockdown to the delivery of testing and vaccines.
It will also focus on infection control in care homes, including the transfer of patients from hospitals.
'Dismay and anger'
The UK inquiry, which was set up after the Scottish equivalent, began with a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. It will not hold public hearings until 2023.
Lawyer Aamer Anwar, acting for the Scottish branch of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, said there was "dismay and anger" and branded the probe a "sinking ship".
He told BBC Scotland it was "astonishing" that the Scottish inquiry had made little progress.
He added: "The families for many months in Scotland have expressed grave concerns about not being front and centre of the Scottish inquiry as they were promised by the Scottish government.
"Any new judge coming in to chair the Scottish inquiry must be robust, must be independent and also have sufficient experience to carry out their role without interference from anyone and their first task will be to win the trust of the bereaved families."
There is an insistence from within the inquiry that Lady Poole really did leave for personal reasons.There is an insistence from within the inquiry that Lady Poole really did leave for personal reasons.
But her decision came the day after two-thirds of its lawyers quit - and in the days leading up to the UK-wide inquiry beginning to great fanfare in London.But her decision came the day after two-thirds of its lawyers quit - and in the days leading up to the UK-wide inquiry beginning to great fanfare in London.
Some in legal circles have remarked upon how the UK inquiry appears to have moved more quickly and smoothly into holding hearings.Some in legal circles have remarked upon how the UK inquiry appears to have moved more quickly and smoothly into holding hearings.
And opposition MSPs are less than impressed that there was no mention of other resignations when they were briefed about Lady Poole's departure by the government.And opposition MSPs are less than impressed that there was no mention of other resignations when they were briefed about Lady Poole's departure by the government.
Ministers are quick to underline that the inquiry is wholly independent, and looks after its own staffing without any government input.Ministers are quick to underline that the inquiry is wholly independent, and looks after its own staffing without any government input.
But they are sure to face a barrage of questions in parliament about how things will get back on track, and when bereaved families can expect to hear some answers.But they are sure to face a barrage of questions in parliament about how things will get back on track, and when bereaved families can expect to hear some answers.
A spokesperson for the inquiry said: "We can confirm that four members of the counsel team have left the inquiry. We are immensely grateful for their contribution to the inquiry's progress and wish them every success.A spokesperson for the inquiry said: "We can confirm that four members of the counsel team have left the inquiry. We are immensely grateful for their contribution to the inquiry's progress and wish them every success.
"The independent inquiry is continuing its important work on behalf of the public pending the appointment of a new chair.""The independent inquiry is continuing its important work on behalf of the public pending the appointment of a new chair."
The inquiry's website states "it is too early for us to be able to give a detailed timeline".The inquiry's website states "it is too early for us to be able to give a detailed timeline".
Lady Poole has offered to assist her successor while serving her notice period.Lady Poole has offered to assist her successor while serving her notice period.
A Scottish government spokesman said: "A public inquiry operates independently of ministers. As a result, the procedure, conduct and operation of the inquiry, including staffing and counsel appointments, are matters for the chair.A Scottish government spokesman said: "A public inquiry operates independently of ministers. As a result, the procedure, conduct and operation of the inquiry, including staffing and counsel appointments, are matters for the chair.
"The Scottish government is keen to help ensure the excellent progress made so far by the inquiry is continued. Consequently, work to appoint a new chair is being progressed at pace."The Scottish government is keen to help ensure the excellent progress made so far by the inquiry is continued. Consequently, work to appoint a new chair is being progressed at pace.
"The deputy first minister has already spoken with the Lord President about arrangements for appointing a new judicial chair."The deputy first minister has already spoken with the Lord President about arrangements for appointing a new judicial chair.
"Having advised MSPs on Monday he undertook to provide a further update to parliament about a replacement chair at the earliest opportunity.""Having advised MSPs on Monday he undertook to provide a further update to parliament about a replacement chair at the earliest opportunity."