Covid inquiry reports on care homes
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry's sixth report found ministers' "protective ring" claim around care homes was unfounded, with over 43,000 virus deaths in UK care homes.
The findings put responsibility for care-sector decisions at the centre of a years-long reckoning for bereaved families.
Background
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is an independent investigation into the UK's response to and impact of the pandemic, the biggest public inquiry in British history, run in ten modules with findings published as separate reports. Its chair is Baroness Heather Hallett. The 'Care Sector' report is the sixth, examining how care homes were handled in 2020, when hospital patients were rapidly discharged into homes to free up beds and no policy ensured testing before admission or isolation for asymptomatic patients until mid-April. Covid19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK (CBFFJ) is a campaign group representing bereaved families.
How it unfolded
- 2020 -03 to 2022-07More than 43,000 deaths involving the virus were recorded in care homes across the UK.
- 2020 (early)Hospital patients were rapidly discharged into care homes to free up beds; no policy ensured testing before admission or isolation for asymptomatic patients until mid-April.
- 2020 -05Then health secretary Matt Hancock said at a Downing Street press conference: "Right from the start, we've tried to throw a protective ring around our care homes."
- 2022The High Court ruled the policies were unlawful.
- 2023 -06The UK Covid-19 Inquiry began.
- 2026 -03Public hearings finished.
- Oct 19, 2026On the eve of publication, campaigners said the report must establish who was responsible for the decisions that cost so many lives.
- Oct 20, 2026The inquiry published its sixth report, the 'Care Sector' report.
- mid-2027The final report is expected to be complete.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett said the pandemic "totally disrupted" the lives of people in care homes with a "devastating impact", and that blanket "do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation" orders "should not have happened".
- Party
- Former health secretary Matt Hancock defended his handling of an "impossible" situation, calling it "the least-worst decision that could have been taken at the time" and describing a "big team effort" to save lives.
- Support
- Covid19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK said the report must establish who was responsible for the decisions that cost so many lives, warning another promise followed by delay would be an "unforgivable betrayal".
- Caution
- The inquiry found ministers' claims of a "protective ring" around care homes were unfounded, that care homes seemed "something of an afterthought", and that the failure to advise isolation for people discharged from hospital was a "significant oversight".