A pre-action letter has been sent to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, seeking an admission that guidelines allowing coronavirus patients to be discharged from hospitals into care homes untested was unlawful.
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Sidmouth’s population is one of the oldest in the country:
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And it has a lot of care homes for the elderly:
Coronavirus, care homes and Sidmouth – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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The current state of the industry in the South West – and, indeed, country-wide – is not looking good:
Devon care homes under pressure – Vision Group for Sidmouth
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This morning, a Sidmouth resident has launched a legal challenge – as reported on Sky News:
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Coronavirus: Govt facing legal action unless it admits to acting ‘unlawfully’ over care homes
Dr Cathy Gardner wants the government to admit the treatment of care homes up to and during the pandemic was unlawful.
The daughter of an 88-year-old man who died in a care home is demanding the health secretary retract his claim that “a protective ring” was thrown around care homes or she will take him to court. Dr Cathy Gardner, whose father Michael Gibson died on 3 April, wants an acknowledgement the treatment of care homes up to and during the pandemic was unlawful.
In particular she wants an admission that guidelines allowing coronavirus patients to be discharged from hospitals into care homes untested was unlawful. Lawyers representing Dr Gardner have sent a pre-action letter to Matt Hancock giving him 14 days to respond. They say if there is not an adequate response they will begin proceedings for judicial review at the High Court.
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Dr Gardner has launched a crowd-funding campaign:
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Help me hold the government to account for Covid-19 care home deaths
Help me hold the government to account for Covid-19 care home deaths | crowdjustice.com
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Daughter takes legal action over care home policies
The daughter of an 88-year-old man who died in a care home is demanding the Health Secretary retract his claim that ‘a protective ring’ was thrown around care homes or she will take him to court.
Dr Cathy Gardner wants an acknowledgement the treatment of care homes up to and during the pandemic was unlawful.