🎥 Care & Support West on BBC Radio Bristol

David Smallacombe, CEO of Care and Support West, spoke to Joe Lemer on BBC Radio Bristol about Matt Hancock’s input to the COVID inquiry. The former UK Health Secretary, gave evidence for the seventh time. As the minister responsible for adult care services during the pandemic, he defended the early policy of discharging untested hospital patients into care homes as the “least worst decision” available.

David’s testimony reinforces the message that social care was an equal pillar of pandemic response—one that should no longer be treated as an afterthought.

He also delivers an impassioned reminder of the widespread underreporting of the human cost to staff:

“People forget that care staff died too. They lived in care homes, isolated from their families, doing everything to protect those they cared for.”

The lack of PPE wasn’t just a logistics issue—it was a matter of life and death. For residents. For workers. For entire communities.

David’s Hopes for the Inquiry

• Better collaboration between central government, local authorities, and care providers.

• Urgent reform of care sector funding and staffing, including:

  • Addressing recruitment restrictions (e.g. international hires),

  • Legal mandates like PPE supply needing proper funding,

  • Acceleration of Baroness Casey’s adult social care review—currently set to report by 2028.

His hope is that the inquiry highlights the value of social care, not just in hindsight, but as a vital national service needing strategic investment now.