Our reaction to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry Module 3 report
The pandemic had a huge impact on all of our members
Commenting on the UK government’s UK COVID-19 Inquiry Module 3 report, Director of Practice and Innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Karin Orman, said:
‘The UK government has published its report on the impact of COVID-19 on the NHS. We know that the pandemic had a huge impact on all of our members: on their work lives, their personal lives and, for some, it continues to impact their health.
‘We’ve waited a long time for this and it was good to see the extraordinary efforts of healthcare workers, including occupational therapists, being recognised.
‘However, the report also makes it clear that infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance was not good enough, which means healthcare workers, including our members, were let down. It confirms that COVID‑19 spreads through the air and surgical masks and handwashing alone do not provide enough protection. Concerningly, similar patterns are emerging in responses to current infectious disease threats.
‘Although a dedicated Long Covid chapter acknowledges healthcare workers, Long Covid is absent from the main recommendations. There are some useful suggestions, however, such as improving ventilation and using HEPA filters.
'Do read the report and think about what it means for your own safety and for the people accessing your services. The challenge now is making sure real change happens.’