Consultant Professor Ronan Collins has warned that the Covid inquiry must not descend into mudslinging and the focus instead must be on learning what went wrong and seeking a better level of preparedness for future pandemics.
Prof Collins told RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show “we can’t change the past, but we can recognise the hurt”. Any “inquiry, investigation, review” must lead to recommendations that are then implemented to ensure that better care systems are put in place.
The key issue was what was the purpose of the exercise, whether it be called an inquiry, investigation or review, he said.
If the purpose was “to get into mudslinging” as “tended” to happen in Ireland, then that would not be helpful. While mistakes had been made, there were many things that had been done well, he said. The vaccination programme had been very successful. “There are lots of positive things.”
The focus must be “on a culture of learning from what happened. If it becomes a blame game then people will seek to protect themselves and that will impede a review,” he warned.
“We need to get away from pointing fingers. This was the first pandemic that the Government had to deal with.
“The purpose must be to get things right next time.”
Prof Collins also called for hospitals to be redesigned to make them more age friendly to ensure the “dignity, security and privacy” of older patients.
