Covid inquiry: Welsh government criticised over preparations

It said: “For an administration that prided itself on its efficiency of movement because of its relative lack of scale, and which had described itself as operating effectively under one roof, the reality did not match the rhetoric.

“The system was labyrinthine”.

The inquiry “was not persuaded” by mitigation offered by Dr Goodall that it made more sense to those within the system than those outside of it.

“An opportunity to create a coherent and therefore dynamic system in Wales had been hampered by undue complexity” it said.

Welsh Conservatives called the report “a damning indictment of Labour’s handling of the pandemic”.

Tory Senedd group leader Andrew RT Davies said it was “abundantly clear” from the report that Labour ministers were “out of their depth and had no idea” of the state of pandemic readiness.

“We need a Wales-specific Covid inquiry to rectify these blatant errors.” he added.

Plaid Cymru’s health spokesperson Mabon ap Gwynfor also repeated calls for a Wales-specific public inquiry.

He said the report would “make difficult reading for bereaved families and our thoughts are with them today”.

“A picture of over-complex structures, lack of accountability, important work left unfinished and a general feeling of unwarranted over-confidence in preparedness plans is laid out in stark terms by Baroness Hallett”.

He added: “It is of deep concern to read that some of the lessons have not been learned”.

The Welsh government has ruled out a Wales-specific inquiry into the pandemic. However a Senedd committee has been tasked with “identifying gaps” in the preparedness and response of the Welsh government and other Welsh public bodies.

Mr Gething said the Welsh government would now study the inquiry recommendations and fully respond to them.

He said the Welsh government was “committed to open and constructive work” with the other UK administrations and would be “building on this in response to the report”.