On 20 October 2026, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry published its report on the adult social care sector, written by its Chair, Baroness Hallett. The report found that, early in the pandemic, not enough was done to protect people in care settings, and that adult social care appeared to be “something of an afterthought”. The Inquiry estimates that nearly 1 million people were supported to live in their own homes at the start of the pandemic, and that around 5.8 million unpaid carers across the UK looked after family and friends.
What did the Inquiry look at?
Module 6 of the Inquiry looked at adult social care across all four UK nations. It covered care homes, care at home (which the report calls “domiciliary care”) and unpaid care.
What it found about care at home
Several findings matter for people supported at home:
- Home care providers did not usually keep large stocks of protective equipment, and there were severe shortages early on. Some care workers had to work with poor-quality equipment, or none at all.
- Early advice for care workers to stay two metres away from the person they cared for was “wholly unrealistic”, because most care is given up close.
- The data available suggests more people died at home during the pandemic than before it. Health professionals were not always available, so family and friends sometimes gave end-of-life care without the support they needed.
- Unpaid carers provided more complex care, for longer hours, with little or no respite. Support came too late.
What the Inquiry recommends
In summary, the Inquiry recommends:
- clearer pandemic planning for adult social care, including how staffing in care at home will be tracked
- financial support, ready in advance, so care staff can self-isolate when needed
- keeping inspections going during an emergency
- better data on deaths in the social care sector
- mandatory end-of-life care training for relevant health and social care workers
- a voluntary register for the social care workforce in England
The Homecare Association, which represents home care providers, welcomed several of these. It also said that support for people at home, and for the care workers and unpaid carers around them, was hard to access during the pandemic.
What is changing this winter
In its response to an earlier Inquiry report on healthcare, published on 14 September 2026, the UK government said updated infection prevention and control guidance for adult social care settings will be published in winter 2026. It also said an adult social care pandemic action plan is due to be finalised in 2027.
What this means for your family
If you are arranging care at home, it is reasonable to ask a provider:
- How do you plan for emergencies, such as staff illness or an outbreak?
- How do you work with GPs, nurses and other health professionals?
- How will my relative’s wishes about future care be recorded and respected?
The Inquiry found that some advance care planning conversations were rushed during the pandemic. It says these discussions should be handled sensitively and at a pace that suits the person, so it can help to have them early, while there is time.
If you look after someone yourself, the Inquiry also found that problems identifying unpaid carers made it harder to reach them with support. Letting your GP practice know you are a carer is a simple first step.
How we can help
At Synergy Complex Care, we provide care and support at home for adults and children with complex and multiple conditions in and around Bristol. We work in partnership with the people we support, their families and their healthcare professionals to create highly personalised care and support plans.
If you are thinking about care at home for yourself or someone you love, we would be glad to talk. Call us on 0117 403 7878 or email info@synergycomplexcare.com. There is no pressure, just a friendly conversation.