UK Covid-19 Inquiry Reveals Devastating Impact on Disabled People
Disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) have told the UK Covid-19 Inquiry that the country’s social care system failures made the pandemic’s devastating impact on disabled people predictable and avoidable. The DPOs argue that the lack of emergency planning, inadequate data collection, and systemic neglect of disabled people’s needs led to unnecessary deaths and harm.
Systemic Failures and Neglect
The current social care system failed to gather and use vital data on people’s needs during the pandemic, making disabled individuals “invisible” in decision-making. Regulators across all four UK nations failed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of those in care. “Emergency care laws” allowed local councils to stop meeting certain care needs, leaving disabled people without essential support.
Consequences
The consequences were harrowing ¹:
- People went without help to prepare meals or were left in bed for days
- Individuals soiled themselves in wheelchairs due to lack of care
- Essential physiotherapy and daily contact visits were lost, leading to lasting harm to health and independence.
Misuse of DNACPR Notices
DPOs also highlighted the misuse of “do not attempt cardio-pulmonary resuscitation” (DNACPR) notices. These notices were added to medical records without consultation, often targeting people with learning disabilities. This led to :
- Ambulances refusing to take residents with DNACPR orders to hospital
- Care homes not requesting hospital transfers for residents with DNACPR orders
Call for Systemic Change
The DPOs are calling for the Covid-19 Inquiry to recommend systemic change to ensure disabled people’s lives are valued equally in future emergencies. This includes:
- Improved Data Collection: A trusted, effective national system co-designed with DPOs to gather and use vital data on people’s needs
- Increased Support: Adequate support for disabled people, including access to essential care and services
- Accountability: Holding governments and regulators accountable for their actions and decisions during the pandemic
Conclusion
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has a critical role to play in highlighting the systemic failures that led to the devastating impact on disabled people. By recognizing these failures and recommending systemic change, the inquiry can help ensure that disabled people’s lives are valued equally in future emergencies.
