Bereaved families accuse Matt Hancock of a 'cruel lie' over his care home 'protective ring' after Covid inquiry
Baroness Heather Hallett's report, published today, found Covid was able to "spread like wildfire" in care homes, where more than 43,000 deaths involving the virus were recorded.Matt Hancock, whose 'protective ring' claim around care homes was ruled "unfounded" by the inquiry, which found care was "something of an afterthought" during the pandemic.
Jane Roche lost her father Vincent Pettitt and her sister Jocelyn within five days in April 2020. A carer later told her that her father had asked "where's my Jane?" Baroness Heather Hallett's inquiry called the 'protective ring' claim "unfounded" and found care was "something of an afterthought". More than 43,000 care home deaths involving Covid were recorded between March 2020 and July 2022.
Patients leaving hospital were sent to homes whose staff resorted to painters' overalls and festival ponchos for protective equipment.
West End star Ruthie Henshall said her mother Gloria 'died of loneliness' behind a window.
One civil servant described the toll as 'generational slaughter', the report notes.
