BREAKING: Scot Gov admits 921 hospital patients were sent to care homes in March alone, pre mandatory testing. Yet on April 15, Health Sec Jeane Freeman said most of 900 delayed discharge patients discharged since pandemic start went to own homes, not care homes. Huge discrepancy
15/4: Q to Freeman on num of discharges to care homes in pandemic."Up to date there have been just over 900 people who would otherwise be classified as a delayed discharge, discharged from hospital, primarily, as the First Minister said, to their own home"
Scot Gov press office later tell us by email the percentage of the "just over 900" that went to care homes is 31-32%. So, around 300. We ran with this figure repeatedly in days and weeks that followed. 
Reminder: Patients did not have to be tested before discharge to care homes until April 21. Yesterday, Jeane Freeman was asked about how many discharges to care homes during outbreak. She said: "As of last week, 38% went to care homes". She doesn't give actual number.
Today, Nicola Sturgeon was pressed for the discharge number at FMQs. She referred to Ms Freeman's % figure. Journalists pushed for the fig at briefing with FM's spokespeople. Press office responds tonight with this, showing 921 to care homes in March alone. No figures for April.
So, on 15/4, Ms Freeman & Scot Gov hugely underplayed number of patients discharged to care homes. 300ish becomes 921 - and that's just for March. 38% figure Ms Freeman quoted in parl on Tues is for March, not "as of last week" (unless zero discharges in April/May?)
Scottish Tory health spokesperson @MilesBriggsMSP: "These figures suggest Jeane Freeman is guilty of misleading the public on this national scandal. At every opportunity she has tried not to give these details, and now we learn the total far higher than first thought."
Labour health spokesperson @MonicaLennon7: "Journalists and MSPs have been trying to get the truth for weeks. If Jeane Freeman has got her figures muddled this could be put down to an unfortunate mistake ... if she has misled Parliament and the public that is a serious matter."
Scottish Government have been unable to clear up this matter tonight and say they will look to give further clarity tomorrow.
