Former Health Secretary Defends Controversial Covid-19 Care Home Policy

Strategic Insights -

Former health secretary Matt Hancock has defended the policy of discharging hospital patients into care homes during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, claiming it was "the least-worst decision" at the time. Hancock acknowledged the devastating death toll, but maintained that nobody had provided an alternative that would have saved more lives. The policy, implemented in early 2020, saw patients rapidly moved from hospitals to care facilities in an effort to free up beds and prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed.

Key Takeaways:

  • The policy of discharging hospital patients into care homes resulted in over 43,000 deaths involving the virus in care homes across the UK between March 2020 and July 2022.
  • Mr. Hancock acknowledged the discharge policy was an "incredibly contentious issue" but maintained that nobody had provided an alternative that would have saved more lives.
  • The inquiry heard there was no policy in place requiring patients to be tested before admission, or for asymptomatic patients to isolate, until mid-April 2020.
  • Mr. Hancock took responsibility for the policy, stating that it was a government decision signed off by the prime minister and driven by then-NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens.
  • The High Court ruled in 2022 that Government policies on discharging hospital patients into care homes at the start of the pandemic were "unlawful".
  • Mr. Hancock admitted that the protective ring around care homes was not an unbroken one, and that the alternatives were even worse.
  • The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group expressed outrage at Mr. Hancock's claim, stating that he knew at the time that many care homes did not have the ability to isolate the people who would be discharged from hospital.
  • The group called for an urgent review of the decision to discharge people into care homes.
  • Mr. Hancock suggested establishing isolation facilities in care homes and ensuring a stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the event of another pandemic.

Statistics:

  • Over 43,000 deaths involving the virus in care homes across the UK between March 2020 and July 2022.
  • The policy of discharging hospital patients into care homes was implemented in early 2020.
  • The High Court ruled in 2022 that Government policies on discharging hospital patients into care homes at the start of the pandemic were "unlawful".
  • Mr. Hancock appeared before the inquiry multiple times, including this week's session focused on the care sector.
  • The inquiry is expected to run until the end of July, with public hearings continuing through July 2023.

Sources:

  • [UK Covid-19 Inquiry]
  • [PA Wire]
  • [Getty Images]
  • [Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK]