Eddie Lynch, the former Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, gave evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in London yesterday (23 July 2025) as part of its examination into the impact of the pandemic on adult social care.

Mr Lynch, who served as Commissioner throughout the pandemic, outlined the serious and disproportionate impact that Covid-19 had on older people, particularly those living in care homes. His evidence drew from his official witness statement, which was submitted to the Inquiry in February 2025.

Throughout the pandemic, Mr Lynch raised repeated concerns about the vulnerability of older people, calling for faster action on access to testing, PPE, and clear guidance for care providers. He consistently urged government departments to prioritise the needs and rights of older people including those in residential care, nursing homes, and in receipt of domiciliary care.

Speaking at the Inquiry, Mr Lynch emphasised that:

  • Delays in testing and PPE distribution left many care homes dangerously exposed at critical moments.
  • Decisions to discharge patients from hospitals to care homes without testing had devastating consequences.
  • Prolonged visiting restrictions caused significant emotional distress for residents and families, and more could have been done to enable safe visiting.
  • The absence of a joined-up, well-resourced adult social care system in Northern Ireland, which was already under pressure before the pandemic, significantly hindered the response to Covid-19.
  • Better planning, communication, and inclusion of older people’s voices in decision-making could have prevented some of the most harmful outcomes.

Mr Lynch also reflected on the lessons to be learned, urging future emergency responses to embed the rights and voices of older people at every level of planning and delivery.

Mr Lynch’s full witness statement is publicly available on the Inquiry website 

The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland continues to engage with the Inquiry to support its efforts to ensure accountability and learning. The current Commissioner, Siobhan Casey, took up post in April 2025 and is committed to championing the rights of older people and strengthening the systems that support them.