Ex-Wales Health Minister Admits Pandemic Plans Inadequate; First Minister Mark Drakeford Accepts Failings

He said the government should have done more to prepare for the possibility of excess deaths.

Gething also acknowledged that resources were diverted from pandemic plans to preparing for a possible no-deal Brexit.

The former chief medical officer, Sir Frank Atherton, said plans for a no-deal Brexit had held up work to prepare for a flu outbreak.

Gething said if he had spent more time looking at pandemic plans, he could have sped up preparedness.

The Welsh government was not as prepared as it could have been, according to the first minister, Mark Drakeford.

Conservatives and Plaid Cymru called for a Wales-specific inquiry into the pandemic after the hearing.

The lead counsel to the inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK has stated that there were significant failings in government preparedness for the pandemic.

The Welsh government was not as prepared as it could have been, and there were failings, but the first minister acknowledged that there were failings in the system.

The first minister also stated that resources had to be diverted from preparing for the pandemic into dealing with the present dangers of leaving the European Union without a deal.

The Welsh government did not feel a need to create a Wales-specific risk assessment document and relied on the expertise of the UK government.

The Welsh Conservative health spokesperson called for a Wales-wide specific public inquiry, and Plaid Cymru health spokesperson also supported an inquiry to identify weaknesses.

The health minister was criticized for not being inquisitive and interested in the pandemic.