Dozens discharged into care homes after positive Covid-19 tests, report finds

A total of 78 hospital patients in Scotland who tested positive for Covid-19 were discharged into care homes from March 1 to April 21, according to a Public Health Scotland report.

The study found between March 1 and April 21 there were 3,599 discharges from hospitals to care homes, with the majority (81.9%) not tested for coronavirus.

Of the 650 who were tested, 78 had received a positive result while in hospital.

It is important to note that there are valid clinical reasons for individuals not to be tested prior to discharge

Between April 22 and May 31, there were 1,605 discharges from hospitals to care homes.

The majority (1,493 – 93%) were tested for Covid-19, in line with changes in clinical guidance.

Of these, 1,215 tested negative and 278 tested positive. Of those who tested positive, 233 had a negative test result before discharge.

The report states: “It is important to note that there are valid clinical reasons for individuals not to be tested prior to discharge, relating to their capacity to consent to testing and avoiding causing distress, and to appropriateness of testing, e.g. in end of life care situations.”

Between March 1 and May 31, there were 5,204 discharges from NHS hospitals to care homes, relating to 4,807 individuals, which accounted for 5.3% of all hospital discharges during the same period.