Inquiry finds care homes treated as afterthought during pandemic

Government claim of a protective ring dismissed as rhetoric

The inquiry dismissed the repeated claim by former health secretary Matt Hancock that the government had thrown a protective ring around care homes as mere rhetoric. Mr Hancock made this assertion at a Downing Street press conference on 15 May 2020.

The report found that the claim was unfounded. It concluded that the statement did not accurately reflect the reality faced by providers in the first weeks of the pandemic.

Hospital discharge policies allowed virus to spread

Inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett said a lack of proper pandemic planning allowed the virus to spread like wildfire in care settings.

The report found that hospital patients were discharged into care settings without testing for the virus.

In spring 2020, there was no policy requiring testing before discharge and no requirement for asymptomatic individuals to isolate until mid-April.

Vulnerable residents were left with insufficient protection as patients were transferred from hospitals without anyone knowing if they carried the virus.

The human cost and conditions in care settings

There were more than 43,000 recorded deaths involving Covid-19 in care homes between March 2020 and July 2022.

A civil servant described this death toll during inquiry hearings as a generational slaughter within care homes.

Care staff faced extreme hazards due to severe shortages of personal protective equipment.

Some staff were forced to use bin bags, festival ponchos, and household linens to protect themselves.

The inquiry condemned the unacceptable use of non-personalised Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation decisions.

Visiting restrictions caused severe emotional distress

The inquiry found that care homes became prisons for some residents amid visiting bans.

These restrictions caused significant harm and severe emotional distress to residents and their families.

Many residents felt abandoned and were prematurely separated from dying loved ones.

The report attributed this harm to the care homes themselves.

Families and sector representatives respond to findings

Jean Adamson of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK described the report as a "devastating account of one of the darkest episodes in our country’s history". She argued the government failed to act until it was too late.

The group labelled Matt Hancock’s claim of a protective ring a "cruel lie". Nicola Brook, a solicitor representing over 7,000 families from the organisation, called the report a "superficial damp squib".

Martina Ferguson, whose mother Ursula Derry died during the pandemic, said the report has "reopened, wounds for many families here in Northern Ireland". She spent nine months communicating with her mother through a glass window while she resided in a care home.

Pauline Shepherd, chief executive of Independent Health & Care Providers, was also mentioned in relation to the findings.

Baroness Hallett calls for urgent policy changes

Baroness Heather Hallett stated that public policy during March and early April 2020 focused on protecting hospitals at the expense of care users and providers. She noted that the care sector lacked equivalent influence within government structures during the early pandemic.

The inquiry chair said lessons must be learned to ensure residents, families, and staff are better protected during future public health emergencies. She advised the Prime Minister that her recommendations "do not need to wait and should not wait" for Baroness Casey’s long-term reform proposals.

Baroness Hallett recommended urgent policy changes, including a right to in-person care home visits and mandatory staff training on DNACPR decisions. She also proposed safer hospital discharge isolation protocols and the creation of a voluntary workforce register for care staff.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the government is "committed to learning the lessons" from the report. He stated the administration plans to develop an "action plan" for future pandemics.

The government previously stated in March 2026 that it is co-developing an action plan with the sector. This plan is due for publication next year to improve the resilience and preparedness of the adult social care workforce.

Historical context of healthcare management

Professor Raphael Bengoa published a review in 2016 intended to change how Northern Ireland manages healthcare.