A new website has been launched to gather the Scottish public’s experience of the Covid pandemic.

Let’s Be Heard: Sharing Scotland’s COVID Experience is the main channel for people who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022 to share their experiences as part of the Covid Inquiry. 

Dr Alexandra Anderson, head of Let’s Be Heard, said: “Everyone in Scotland has been affected by the pandemic. Thousands of people have lost their lives, and many others continue to be profoundly affected. Lessons people believe should be drawn from their experiences, both positive and negative, will be at the heart of the Inquiry’s investigations. 

“Our internal research team will analyse the experiences people share with us and produce a series of reports to help shape the Inquiry’s investigations and inform its reporting and recommendations to Scottish ministers.” 

The public are being asked three key questions:

What were your experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic?  

What impact did these experiences have on you or people you know?  

What lessons do you think should be learned from your experiences? 

As well as sharing their experiences through the website, the public can respond by submitting a hard copy form which are being made available in care homes and other community facilities and return the envelope by emailing [email protected], writing to Freepost SCOTTISH COVID-19 INQUIRY, or by leaving a voicemail for us on 0808 175 555.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:  “The Scottish Covid inquiry must be rooted in the stories of victims, so it’s promising to see that efforts are being made to that end.

“Previous public inquiries have been plagued by delays and vast costs, which is why I have repeatedly called for this Inquiry to deliver its first interim report within a year. 

“To ensure that the voices of victims are fully heard, this Inquiry must be able to go anywhere, speak to anyone and demand answers for all those Scots who suffered due to Covid-19.”

Scottish Conservative shadow minister for social care, Craig Hoy MSP, said: “The SNP’s Covid Inquiry has been beset with problems from day one so the belated launch of a website allowing the public to record their experiences is long overdue.

“Bereaved families deserve answers, yet the Scottish government’s Inquiry has continuously let them down and is already trailing behind its UK equivalent.

“SNP ministers have dropped the ball with this Inquiry at every opportunity and the costs are already mounting. The government must now ensure that it addresses all the mistakes made during the pandemic. Only then will it be able to bring closure for bereaved families in order to allow lessons to be learned for the future.”