Campaigners from the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice group say they feel vindicated by findings in Lady Hallett's latest Covid inquiry report, which concluded the Johnson government wasted £10bn on PPE.
Key facts
- Lady Heather Hallett's latest Covid inquiry report examined the UK's handling of personal protective equipment.
- The inquiry found the Johnson government wasted £10bn on PPE.
- Bereaved families feel vindicated by some conclusions but remain unconvinced by the report's verdict on the 'VIP lane'.
- Naomi Fulop of the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice group lost her mother to coronavirus in January 2021.
Bereaved families in the UK have welcomed the findings of the latest Covid inquiry report, led by former court of appeal judge Lady Heather Hallett, which delivered a damning assessment of the government’s handling of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic.
Speaking at south London’s Kia Oval cricket stadium, Naomi Fulop, a member of the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) group, gave the assembled British media her response to the report. Reading a statement from her mobile phone, her voice quivering slightly, she recalled the death of her mother from coronavirus in January 2021, according to the Guardian.
Fulop’s mother died during the second lethal wave of the pandemic, at a time when a vaccine was still a far-off aspiration and the country was under its third national lockdown. Like many others, Fulop believes her mother died because those caring for her did not have adequate PPE.
That belief, the Guardian reported, is supported by the findings of Lady Hallett’s inquiry. The report concluded that the Johnson government wasted £10bn on PPE during the pandemic.
While campaigners feel vindicated by some of the report’s conclusions, they remain unconvinced by its verdict on the so-called ‘VIP lane’ — a reference to the procurement route used during the pandemic. Fellow members of the CBFFJ group stood alongside Fulop as she delivered her statement.
The response from bereaved families reflects a mix of vindication and lingering questions as the inquiry’s work continues to scrutinise decisions made during one of the most difficult periods of the UK’s pandemic response.
Why it matters
The inquiry's findings speak directly to families who lost loved ones and believe inadequate protective equipment played a role in those deaths. With £10bn found to have been wasted on PPE, the report raises serious questions about government procurement and accountability during the pandemic.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Covid inquiry find about PPE?
According to the Guardian, Lady Hallett's inquiry found that the Johnson government wasted £10bn on personal protective equipment during the pandemic.
Who led the Covid inquiry?
The inquiry was led by Lady Heather Hallett, a former court of appeal judge.
Why do some families remain unconvinced by the report?
Campaigners feel vindicated by some of the report's conclusions but are unconvinced by its verdict on the 'VIP lane' procurement route, according to the Guardian.