Disabled people call for next year’s Covid Inquiry to investigate their experience
75% of disabled people say they their needs have been overlooked, despite being one of the hardest hit groups of the pandemic
Last updated 8th Sep 2021
More than three quarters (77%) of disabled people want next year’s Inquiry into the UK’s handling of Covid to investigate their experience, and fear if it doesn’t, the same mistakes will happen again.
A new campaign and petition, by the disability charity, Sense, is calling on the Government to ensure disabled people are at the heart of next year’s Inquiry.
It comes as new research shows:
- Three quarters (75 per cent) of disabled people say they their needs have been overlooked, despite being one of the hardest hit groups of the pandemic, making up six in 10 of all Covid deaths
- Nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of disabled people say their mental health has got worse during the pandemic, with over half (54 per cent) citing a deterioration in physical health.
- More than three quarters (77 per cent) of disabled people say next year’s Covid Inquiry must investigate what has happened to them, fearing the same mistakes will happen again if it doesn’t.
Nicola Slator from Keighley cares for her daughter Rebecca, who has complex special needs and a tracheoscopy.
She said every day has been a battle:
"Our supplies were cut short for tracheoscopy because the supplies were needed in hospital for people who had covid, a lot of people with a tracheoscopy and children, they are still struggling to get supplies now. Completely forgotten.
"So we finally fought to get her back into college, the care company had reduced her care, a huge battle, many many meetings, many phone calls, the day she went back from college, I got a phone call saying the money for her transport would be taking out of my respite."
Nicola and Rebecca are backing the campaign, but she tells us it's been a battle even before the pandemic happened.
We asked Nicola how the pandemic impacted her health:
"You don't want to wake up any morning for another battle, to feel useless.
"I wanted to walk off with my animals, and keep walking, I wasn't interested in life at all, there was no life."
Many people say the pandemic has highlighted and worsened the inequalities for disabled people.
Nicola said:
"It's not a matter of throwing money at everyone, it's a matter of listening to what people's needs are, include them! Ask the disabled people what they need, what would work for them and coming up with a solution."
A Government spokesperson said:
“As the Prime Minister said, we have committed to holding a full public inquiry which will start in the spring.
"Terms of reference will be set out in good time for the inquiry to begin, and we will consult with bereaved families and others before they are finalised."
Inquiry:
The PM made clear in Parliament on 12 May that the Covid Inquiry will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and that it will start in Spring 2022.
The inquiry will be a UK-wide consultation with the devolved administrations.
Decisions on a chair and terms of reference will be made in due course.
The Prime Minister's House of Commons Statement on 12 May 2021:
"Every part of our United Kingdom has suffered the ravages of this virus and every part of the State has pulled together to do battle against it, and if we are to recover as one Team UK – as we must - then we should also learn lessons together in the same spirit. So we will consult the devolved administrations before finalising scope and detailed arrangements, so that this Inquiry can consider all key aspects of the UK response."
Disability support during the pandemic:
Disabled people deserve the best possible care, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have taken action to protect people using emerging evidence to inform our response.
We have provided a range of help for disabled people throughout the pandemic including £3.6 million to help charities offer vital projects to improve disabled people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Through our upcoming National Disability Strategy we are going to go even further in addressing issues that disabled people say affect them the most.
SEND support:
Every young person deserves an excellent education that sets them up for life, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
We are providing over £42 million in 2021-22 to continue funding projects to support children and young people with SEND. This investment will ensure that specialist organisations around the country can continue to help strengthen local area performance, support families and provide practical support to schools and colleges.
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