UK Covid inquiry finds care sector was treated as an afterthought
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry's latest report concluded that the care sector was treated as an afterthought, allowing the virus to spread rapidly among vulnerable residents.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry's sixth report, chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, has concluded that the adult social care sector was treated as an "afterthought" during the early stages of the pandemic.
According to the findings, government failures created conditions that allowed the virus to spread "like wildfire" among vulnerable care home residents. The report rejected claims by former ministers that a "protective ring" had been placed around care homes, noting that patients were routinely discharged from hospitals into care facilities without systematic testing or clear isolation instructions.
While the report noted that Scotland instituted isolation measures for care home discharges earlier than other UK nations, it found the sector there was similarly unprepared. Following the report's release, opposition politicians in Scotland directed sharp criticism at former Scottish government ministers over the discharge decisions.
Sources: BBC Northern Ireland, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald, The Scotsman.
Sources
- STV News — Care homes ‘afterthought’ during pandemic as Covid ‘spread like wildfire’ killing thousands, inquiry finds
- The Guardian — UK government failures led to Covid spreading ‘like wildfire’ in care homes, inquiry finds
- The Herald — UK Covid inquiry: Scotland first on care home isolation but sector was 'afterthought'
- The Scotsman — Sturgeon under fire for care homes 'deadly decision' in 'utterly damning' Covid inquiry report
- BBC Northern Ireland — Government failings allowed Covid 'to spread like wildfire' in care homes, inquiry finds