Four national disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) told the COVID-19 inquiry that disabled people who received care were intentionally ignored during the pandemic. They said that care settings became dangerous, and essential services were taken away, leaving disabled people isolated and vulnerable.
The inquiry heard that over 43,000 people died in care homes across the UK between March 2020 and July 2022. However, there is no data on the number of disabled people who died in their own homes while receiving care services. The DPOs highlighted that people with learning difficulties were seven to nine times more likely to die from COVID than those without learning difficulties.
The DPOs also criticized the UK government for suspending disabled people’s rights under the Care Act early in the pandemic. They said that this led to a massive failure in accountability and the law, resulting in many people losing essential support, including social contact.
The organizations also pointed out that the government ignored people who received care in their own homes when it came to providing personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and food supplies. These essential services were added late to government plans, if at all.
The inquiry will hear from 55 witnesses over five weeks and has received nearly 47,000 pandemic care stories from individuals. After the hearing, disability leaders demanded action, warning that disabled people had suffered and died due to poor planning and a lack of respect for their rights. They urged governments to work with disabled people’s organizations to fix care systems and prevent these failures in the future.
The DPOs are calling for change to ensure that disabled people are not ignored or neglected in future pandemics. They want governments to prioritize the needs and rights of disabled people, particularly those who receive care and support. By working together, they hope to create a more inclusive and equitable system that values the lives of all individuals, regardless of their abilities.
