24 patients were discharged from South West Acute Hospital to nursing or residential care homes in the first 16 days of April but health chiefs have refused to confirm if any of these patients were tested for Covid-19.

Last month bosses in each of the five health trusts across Northern Ireland were instructed by the Department of Health (DoH) to free up capacity within hospitals by making use of space in nursing and residential care homes.

However, neither the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) nor the DoH would confirm if those patients discharged from hospital were tested for the virus.

This comes as it was confirmed by the Public Health Agency (PHA) that there were 297 confirmed cases of Covid-19 cases in nursing and residential care homes in Northern Ireland. It was also revealed this week that testing for Covid-19 in nursing and residential care homes began on April 12 and only for patients who were symptomatic.

That fact was revealed by the Chief Medical Officer, Michael McBride who also stated that “the minister (Robin Swann) has directed that all individual patients who are being s from hospital setting into a care setting will have a test for Covid-19 48 hours before their discharge.”

Despite several requests from this newspaper however, the Department of Health would not confirm on what date Minister Swann made the decision that patients should be tested prior to being discharged from hospital into a care setting.

A spokesperson for the DoH said “The position on the priority groups to be tested is set out in the Interim Protocol on Testing.

The most recent review and update of the Interim Protocol on Testing (completed on 19 April) advises that all patients being discharged from hospital to a care home setting should be tested, ideally 48 hours prior to discharge.”

When the Impartial Reporter asked to see a copy of the Interim Protocol on Testing prior to April 19 to ascertain if testing for patients being discharged to a care setting was included the spokesperson for the DoH said that “The protocol has not been published by the Department. It is an operational tool which supports delivery of the testing strategy.”

Information revealed by the WHSCT showed that at least one patient was discharged from hospital every day in April up to April 16 with a high of four patients discharged on April 3. However, in relation to whether or not those patients were tested for Covid-19 the WHSCT said that “the DoH/PHA should be able to provide guidance around discharges and testing.”

Both health bodies were contacted by this newspaper with the PHA confirming that the DoH would be dealing with the query.

At the time of going to print the DoH had not provided information relating to when testing began in hospitals for patients to be discharged to a care setting.

A spokesperson did say however that testing should not hold up discharge: “This testing requirement must not hold up a timely discharge of patients to care homes, the purpose of this testing is to ensure that care home staff are fully informed about the status of the patient transferring to their care and can therefore plan and provide appropriate care to the patient upon their transfer into the care home. The position on testing is fast moving and as a result the protocol is kept under regular review.”

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