MORE than 200 vulnerable people who had either tested positive for coronavirus or were suspected of having the disease were discharged into care homes by Northumbria Healthcare.

A Freedom of Information request, submitted by the Courant, revealed that 115 patients who had tested positive for COVID-19, along with a further 97 people who were suspected to have the virus, were discharged to care and nursing homes between March and July - a total of 212.

Hexham Courant:

Official guidance on March 19 said patients must not remain in NHS beds unless they were required to be in hospital.

On April 2, the rules on discharging to care homes said negative tests would not be required before patients were transferred to care homes.

It wasn't until April 15 that the Government said all patients discharged from hospital would be tested- but despite that, in May the Courant reported that the boss of Wellburn Care, which runs Wellburn House in Ovingham, was being pressured into accepting hospital patients who hadn't been tested.

Penny Grennan, the chair of Hexham Constituency Labour Party, said the policy was a recipe for disaster.

She said: “I am appalled, but not surprised, by the number of people released into care homes and the ghastly consequences.

“There was an outcry at the time and everyone, who had even a basic understanding of viral infections, was saying that this would lead to many deaths.

“Why wouldn’t it? The idea of relocating infectious people into a closed environment, populated by elderly, vulnerable people, when they did not have PPE or any time to prepare, is obviously a recipe for disaster.

“The Government was roundly criticised for allowing this to happen and for failing to protect the elderly.

“The other hidden tragedy in this is the risk that our over worked, underpaid and dedicated care workers were exposed to.

“On September 7, Matt Hancock delivered the message to young people, 'Don’t Kill your Granny'.

“Once again the Government is placing the responsibility for withstanding the virus on us, having completely failed the grandparents who they placed at risk.”

A report by the National Audit Office revealed that, by May 17, half of all care homes in the North East had reported an outbreak of coronavirus, compared to just 38 per cent nationally.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, 1,513 care home residents in the North East had died by June because of COVID-19.

Birju Bartoli, executive director of performance and improvement at Northumbria Healthcare, said patients were discharged in line with national guidelines, and were clinically fit to be transferred.

She said: “Whenever possible, we discharged patients after 14 days of being diagnosed – post infectious period. Care homes also have processes in place to ensure residents can self-isolate as required.

“As part of this collaborative approach, the trust continues to work closely with care homes to support them as much as possible in relation to infection prevention and control training. We are also supporting care homes with testing and with the provision of PPE.”

The trust has also pointed out that residents may also have been discharged to care homes by hospitals managed by neighbouring trusts.

Hexham MP Guy Opperman said public bodies across the UK, including the Government, would face scrutiny. He said: “I am hugely appreciative of all the hard work and dedication of our NHS staff and carers throughout this pandemic.

"It will be important to consider and scrutinise the decisions local councils, health trusts and governments across the UK have made.

"However, it is right that at present, the focus remains on trying to keep this terrible virus under control and working to save lives.