Comment on government's response to Grenfell Inquiry

Gerard Hanratty, Head of Health and Life Sciences at UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson, which has represented core participants in many nationally significant public inquiries, including Grenfell, said:

“The government’s commitment to meeting all 58 recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry reiterates the importance of creating a central repository to record and monitor the implementation of recommendations made by public inquiries, a need highlighted by the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee report into enhancing public trust.

“At organisational level, particularly within the large institutions that are often the subject of inquiries and receiving such a high volume of recommendations, it’s clear there are significant hurdles to making the required changes, with auditing requirements being burdensome and disproportionate accountability frameworks between junior and senior staff.

“The adoption of emerging technologies of AI should help with identifying issues before they arise, while the planned creation of a leadership and management framework within the NHS points the way forward to how standards can be upheld.

“Any national oversight body for implementing inquiry recommendations should also ensure these are prioritised accordingly to help organisations handle the level of changes required.

“By taking these steps, the government can help ensure public inquiries succeed in delivering on their objectives, which is to make meaningful change where there have been institutional failings.”