Coronavirus: Calls for investigation into care home crisis as Gove admits 'big lessons' to be learned

Labour has demanded an investigation into the handling of coronavirus in care homes, as Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove admitted there were “big lessons” to be learned.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has come under fire for his claim on Friday that the government had thrown a “protective ring” around care homes from the start of the crisis, as official statistics showed the number of deaths among residents could be double the government’s figure.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said that care workers had been “tragically let down” by the government.

She said the data suggests there are “10,000 unaccounted-for deaths” in the sector.

And she told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “There should be some investigation into that and (Labour leader) Keir Starmer has requested that because every single death is tragic.”

Ms Rayner, a former care home worker, said the government’s approach to the sector had been “devastating”.

“We’ve had medical experts who have said we have seeded the virus into care homes and the guidance wasn’t there for care workers,” she said. “I thin they have been tragically let down.

“We allowed people to be discharged and the government were pushing to get people out of hospitals as quickly as possible without testing.”

Mr Gove told Marr that the government had taken “significant steps” to improve the situation in care homes.

But he acknowledged the situation remained a “challenge”.

“There are big lessons to be learned,” said the cabinet minister, who is understood to be a central figure on a number of committees co-ordinating the government’s response to Covid-19.

“We are still living through this pandemic and there will be lessons to be learned. We have taken significant steps to improve the care of people in care homes.

“There will be a point in the future when all of us can look back and reflect and make sure we have learned the appropriate lessons.

“At the moment, we are focused on making sure we beat the virus and protect people as effectively as possible.”

Source: UK Politics - www.independent.co.uk