VIDEO: First Minister To Meet With Families Campaigning For Wales-Specific Inquiry
The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru group wrote to Mark Drakeford a few weeks ago seeking talks.
Last updated 28th Sep 2021
The First Minister has now agreed to speak with a small number of families so he can hear first-hand about their experiences during the pandemic and learn more from what they have to say.
The Welsh Government has argued that the UK-wide inquiry promised by the Prime Minister is the correct process to investigate what happened.
Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees' dad died after contracting Coronavirus whilst in hospital she is welcoming the developments and is hoping the First Minister will change his mind saying: "We have had a response from Mr Drakeford confirming that he will meet a small number of us. He wants to listen to our stories and learn about what has happened to us. So absolutely fantastic news."
WATCH interview here:
Sharon Jones passed away during the second wave after contracting Covid-19 whilst in hospital. The mum of three who had cancer was just 49 years old. Her daughter Alex is among those campaigning for a Wales-specific inquiry.
She told us: "I think that a lot of us feel like that our family members are being treated like numbers and just bodies. You know, Boris said 'the bodies are piling high.' They are not bodies. They are not numbers, they are mothers, they are daughters, they are fathers, they are husbands, you know. Those people mean the world to someone in the world and I think it is important that they are addressed as that. So many of us do not understand how this happened, where this went wrong. When I confronted the hospital about what went wrong, they did not really tell me anything. If anything that leaves you asking more questions. I am concerned that if it is left to a UK-wide inquiry the things that happened in smaller Welsh hospitals could be swept under the rug."
Alex says it's important people get to see the face behind the figures and says her mum who was the heart of the family had been a carer, ran her own taxi business and would do anything for her family and friends. Just weeks before she died Sharon gave her daughter away at her wedding.
Watch interview here: