THE boss of a care company that operates a Tyne Valley care home has warned homes are being pressured into accepting hospital patients who have not been tested for coronavirus.
Susan McKinney of Wellburn Care said staff had been "threatened" with police action if they did not accept an untested patient.
Wellburn Care operates Wellburn House in Ovingham, as well as 13 other homes in the North East and Yorkshire.
She said paramedics turned up to Eighton Lodge Care Home in Gateshead on April 10 and “refused” to leave until staff accepted a resident who had been discharged from hospital.
Ms McKinney, who said there were around 40 other residents living at the home at the time, said staff were left with no other option but to readmit the patient despite having concerns.
She said: “There was a sort of stand-off at the home, family members turned up and paramedics had the poor resident on the stretcher at the door, and would not go away until we allowed them in.
In response, Gateshead Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said it could not comment on an individual case but said it had been following Government guidelines.
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