Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what basis some care homes were chosen by the NHS to put do not resuscitate orders on all their residents during the height of the covid-19 outbreak.

The Department does not hold data on the numbers or assessment of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Decisions (DNACPR).

Agreement to a DNACPR is an individual decision and should involve the person concerned or, where the person lacks capacity, their families, carers, guardians or other legally recognised advocates. There has not been a national instruction or directive issued for blanket DNACPR decisions to be put in place. We remain clear that the blanket application of DNACPRs is unacceptable and that standards and quality of care should be maintained even in pressurised circumstances.