Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients have been discharged from hospital into care homes having either (a) not been tested for covid-19 immediately prior to their move or (b) having tested positive in each month to date since, and including, March 2020.

The Department does not hold data on the number of patients who have been discharged from hospital into care homes having either not been tested for COVID-19 immediately prior to their move or having tested positive in each month to date since, and including, March 2020.

As set out in the Adult Social Care Action Plan on 15 April, all individuals are required to be tested prior to discharge from hospital to a care home, and no care home should be forced to admit residents if they do not feel they can provide the appropriate care.

We will continue to work closely with the sector to keep our policies and data under review.