
Hancock: Discharging patients into care homes was ‘least-worst' Covid decision
The former health secretary admitted that forming a protective ring around care homes was 'impossible' as he doubled down on the policy, which was among the most controversial decisions of the pandemic.
The Covid Inquiry previously heard there were more than 43,000 deaths involving the virus in care homes across the UK between March 2020 and July 2022. Alasdair Donaldson, a senior civil servant, was quoted earlier this week describing the toll as a ' generational slaughter within care homes '.
On Wednesday, Mr Hancock acknowledged the discharge policy was an ' incredibly contentious issue ' but told the inquiry that 'nobody has yet provided me with an alternative that was available at the time that would have saved more lives'.
When the pandemic hit in early 2020, hospital patients were rapidly discharged into care homes in a bid to free up beds and prevent the NHS from becoming overwhelmed.
However, there was no policy in place requiring patients to be tested beforehand, or for asymptomatic patients to isolate, until mid-April.
This was despite growing awareness of the risks of people without Covid symptoms being able to spread the virus.
NHS 'insisted' on policy
Mr Hancock, who resigned from the government in 2021 after admitting to breaking social distancing guidance while having an affair with a colleague, has now appeared at the inquiry seven times.
Returning for a full-day session to face questions specifically about the care sector, Mr Hancock said the hospital discharge policy had been 'driven' by the then NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens, now Lord Stevens.
Mr Hancock said: 'It was formally a government decision. It was signed off by the prime minister. It was really driven by Simon Stevens, the chief executive of the NHS, but it was widely discussed.'
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