Covid-19 review is 'robust and independent' says chair

Response to Island's medical director's comments that's a 'sham'

The chair of a review into government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has hit back at the Island’s former medical director saying her work is ‘robust and independent’.

Kate Brunner KC has responded to Dr Rosalind Ranson’s comments that the review is a ‘sham’ and won’t be able to uncover the truth.

Dr Ranson's views were published in a letter from the British Medical Association today – you can find out more HERE.

In response Kate Brunner says it’s ‘regrettable’ that the author of the letter didn’t contact her to find out about the processes of the review. 

And she says she invites analysis of the report when it is published in two months’ time rather than ‘conjecture’ about the review’s processes and findings at this stage. 

In a statement she adds: “I can reassure the hundreds of people who have given their time and energy to assist the review that I have been able to build up a full picture of what took place during the pandemic, not just in relation to the decision-making around closing the borders, but in relation to many other areas including education, testing and the vaccination programme. 

“That picture is built up not just by speaking to people, but also by a close analysis of contemporaneous documents such as emails, meeting minutes and notes of conversations. 

“The review is not publishing information about what evidence has been gathered or who has been spoken to until the report is finalised. 

“The Covid review is a rigorous and independent investigation which has been given full access to government material and has obtained frank evidence from many current and previous government employees and members of the public.” 

The review is now in the final stages of evaluating the material which has been gathered and seeking further data where required; it will report at the end of this year. 

Ms Brunner adds it is open to her to call for a statutory inquiry and she ‘would not hesitate’ to do this if she felt she was unable to reach ‘sound conclusions’ on a topic because of the absence or a witness or document.