Discharging Covid-positive Patients From Hospital To Care Homes

• Published date: 17 May 2021
• Subject Matter: Food, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
• Law Firm: RadcliffesLeBrasseur
• Author: Mr Ghosia Tariq and Julia Appleton

Scientific data shows a decline in the rate of transmission of Covid in most parts of the country since the start of the roll-out of the UK vaccination programme. An ongoing focus in protecting the community aims to keep the rate of transmission low. Patients in hospital with a Covid-positive result must be discharged into the community safely.

The Department for Health and Social Care ("DHSC"), supported by CQC, local authorities and care providers, is leading an initiative to provide assurance of safe and high-quality care in designated settings. The designated settings are specifically to provide a place to enable an interim period of isolation for people who are discharged from hospital with a Covid-positive test who will be moving to or going back into a care home setting. This initiative is intended to help prevent the further spread of coronavirus in care homes and will also allow for the appropriate level of care to be given to those in need.

The aim of the initiative is for each local authority to have access to at least one designated setting. CQC is working closely with the DHSC to ensure social care designated settings are appropriate. When CQC inspects designated settings, the following checks are made to ensure infection control is maintained:

• Are services physically separating the group of residents?
• Is a dedicated workforce in place?
• Is there appropriate ventilation?

Designated settings will be inspected using the Infection Prevention and Control ("IPC") framework. When reporting on designated settings to the public, the following information will be provided:

• The provision of PPE for staff and residents to control infection safely
• Staff training and procedures to deal with outbreaks
• Whether shielding and social distancing is complied with
• Layout of the premises, use of space and hygiene practice to encourage safety.

The process of a location...