Covid Inquiry questions DHSC on NPA evidence

At the Covid Inquiry on Tuesday, Sir Chris Wormald, permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), was questioned about the
initial exclusion of community pharmacies in the government’s emergency pandemic life assurance scheme.

Earlier this month, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) submitted evidence to the inquiry highlighting the delay in including community pharmacies in the
scheme – which offered £60,000 lump sum payments to NHS and care home staff who died from Covid.

The inquiry heard that the scheme was launched on April 27, 2020, initially covering NHS and care home staff. However, then Health Secretary Matt Hancock only
confirmed the inclusion of community pharmacy staff in a Tweet three days later, on April 30.

NPA Chair Nick Kaye told the inquiry that it was “demoralising and demotivating” to community pharmacy staff who worked throughout the pandemic.

Jacqueline Carey KC, Counsel to the Covid Inquiry, put the charge to Sir Wormald as he gave evidence about the department’s response to the pandemic.