Here's an extract from the official 2 April guidance to care homes as part of an effort to free up 15,000 hospital beds in a hurry for COVID-19 patients. It shows clearly that patients *could* be discharged back into care homes untested, or even infected.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
And here's the evidence of a major policy shift on 15 April:
"We can now confirm we WILL MOVE to institute a policy of testing all residents prior to admission to care homes." (emphasis mine)
gov.uk/government/pub…
"We can now confirm we WILL MOVE to institute a policy of testing all residents prior to admission to care homes." (emphasis mine)
gov.uk/government/pub…
More damning evidence from another official 15 April document about the poor management of coronavirus cases discharged into care homes prior to that date.
gov.uk/government/new…
gov.uk/government/new…
None of the above official documents tie in with Matt Hancock's insistence that care homes have always been a priority. In fact, they had explicitly not been prioritised, and only got bumped up the priority ladder on 15 April, after a widespread public outcry.
