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The Independent
24-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Covid families meet Emma Little-Pengelly in bid to influence policy
Families bereaved by Covid-19 in Northern Ireland have expressed hope they can influence public policy. Members of the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice NI group met deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Parliament Buildings in Belfast on Monday afternoon. The families had previously accused Stormont's leaders of ignoring them and failing to meet them before formulating and publishing the Executive's formal response to the first phase of the UK-wide inquiry into the pandemic. Brenda Doherty, whose mother Ruth died in the pandemic, said it was a 'productive meeting', but expressed regret that First Minister Michelle O'Neill had been unwell and was unable to attend. 'We have had a guarantee she will meet us again in future, and we will certainly hold her to that,' she said. 'We are coming away feeling that we were heard today. The proof will be in the pudding but they know that we are not going away anywhere and if we don't see active engagement with us, we will be back again.' Martina Ferguson, whose mother Ursula died in the pandemic, said she discussed some of the recommendations, adding the group felt they lacked detail, and asked for further information, particularly around the civil contingencies structure in Northern Ireland. 'I specifically asked for the First Minister and deputy First Minister to initiate legislation around the care partner guidance because we were totally failed during the pandemic, and we have asked for that to extend to end of life,' she said. 'We have got a commitment to engage, and that is what we'll do.' Ms Doherty added: 'We see this as the start of a partnership. We're going to be working alongside senior civil servants. That was only the module one report, there are going to be another nine to follow. 'We want engagement either before or when the report is issued to look at how they're going to act upon the recommendations.' Ms Little-Pengelly also spoke to the media after the meeting, and thanked the families for taking part. 'I want to pay tribute to the incredible work that they have done over a sustained period of time, not just to fight for recognition and justice for their loved ones, but of course to try and improve processes,' she said. 'I made a promise to those families today, that promise is that we will listen to them, that we will engage with them and, of course importantly, that we will be implementing these recommendations in a way that is fit for purpose in Northern Ireland. 'But most of all, that we will be doing everything in our power to significantly improve the processes that we have, the planning that we do in order to protect lives moving forward.'
BBC News
19-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Covid bereaved criticise NI executive for lack of engagement
Some of the families of people who died during the pandemic have criticised the Northern Ireland Executive for not engaging with them following the first stage of the UK Covid first part of recommendations from the inquiry were sent to the executive last have said they sent four letters to the executive in the past seven months to request a meeting to discuss group said these requests were unsuccessful up until Tuesday evening, when it was confirmed they could meet with the first and deputy first ministers on Monday. 'Very frustrating' The chair of the inquiry found the UK government and devolved nations failed their citizens as they planned for the wrong pandemic. Brenda Doherty's mother Ruth Burke died during the pandemic. She will mark the fifth anniversary of her death in March said the lack of engagement from the NI Executive has been "very frustrating"."We know that we could support [them], it's not about taking away it's about adding to," she said."We can add value. Everybody can make mistakes, things can go wrong but you have to learn from them and I really don't believe, looking at the framework, there has been any learning."I don't want anybody to experience what our family experienced. Five years on and I miss my mummy."Ms Doherty said Monday's meeting with the executive is "just the start"."It can't just be a token gesture, the proof will be in the pudding and how we move forward." 'There's no next steps' Last month, the Northern Ireland Executive published its response to what's known as the 'Covid-19 Module 1 Report Recommendations' that examined the UK's resilience and preparedness for the Ferguson's mother Ursula Derry died during the coronavirus pandemic. She said executive's action plan, "lacks detail"."There's no next steps in terms of progress and how we work towards them in terms of a timeline". Ms Ferguson described the executive's actions as "really disappointing". "We met political leaders in July 2022. They know we exist, they knew from 2022 that we are here to help. We have lived experience and that should not be underestimated". She also cited the need for "legislative change" in regard to rules around visiting family in hospital and care homes. "We need legal requirement for families, so they are allowed to visit their loved ones in care homes. Because at the end of the day, that is their home." 'Better late than never' Enda McGarrity, solicitor for Northern Ireland Bereaves Families for Justice, said families would have expected to have been consulted and have a meaningful role in forming the executive's action plan."They were disappointed that requests for meetings had been unfulfilled," he families "now welcome" that they will meet the first and deputy first ministers next week, he said."A key concern is that the bereaved families have lived experience of the worst of what happened during the pandemic. "They should not only meet with the leadership because they have suffered most but also because they have gained valuable insights from their experiences and from the inquiry." By not meeting with families sooner, he said, "it creates a perception that that experience isn't valued"."It's better late than never... They are happy now that they will have an opportunity to meet with them," he added."These families are part of a group that they never wanted to be a part of, they've joined together and campaigned for the inquiry, they participate in the inquiry which is often a difficult process in itself and now they're at the point of trying to assist the government to implement the recommendations."The recommendations submitted in July 2024 from the inquiry are the first of 10 McGarrity said he expects families to be consulted earlier in future Northern Ireland Executive have been contacted for a response.
