More than 300 untested patients discharged to care homes from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust hospitals without being screened for virus

Figures from North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust have also revealed more than 300 people were discharged into homes without a covid-19 test between the start of March and April 15.

The Government and Public Health England drafted in routine coronavirus testing for hospital patients being discharged to care homes on April 15.

But before then, guidance on hospital discharges said negative tests were “not required” before transfers or admissions into homes.

A total of 366 patients were discharged from trust hospitals to care homes between March 1 and April 15.

But only 55 of these patients were tested – with 18 showing they had covid-19 and 37 tests coming back negative.

A total of 311 patients went untested over the 41-day period before entering care homes.

The advice on discharges was changed just as the virus was hitting its peak on Teesside.

Half of all Hartlepool care homes saw cases of coronavirus after the outbreak.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham had grave concerns about the patients who went untested – and the past stance on discharges.

The Labour MP added: “It beggars belief that any Government policy would tell hospitals to discharge patients with one of the most deadly viruses in generations directly into the care home sector which was ill equipped to deal with them.

“In those days PPE was a dream not a reality – and I just wonder how many care home staff and residents died or got seriously ill because of this failure in Government policy.

“One in three of the 55 people tested proved positive for coronavirus – who knows how many people not tested had the virus and nobody knew until it was possibly too late and the disease was spread.”

Mr Cunningham said he blamed neither hospitals nor care homes for care home discharges.

“They did what they were told by the Government,” he added.

“Sadly, the inquiry into the Government’s approach to coronavirus will come too late for those who have died or have been left with long term health issues.”

Testing for covid-19 when people are discharged from hospital is now routine.

Officials believe care home discharges from North Tees and Hartlepool were relatively low compared to other trusts.

A statement from trust said covid-19 testing data was only available from March 16 onwards – adding it was “not necessary” for a patient to have a test before discharge to a care home.

A trust spokesperson added: “Public Health England released local guidance specific to care homes – and this included detailed information about the appropriate steps that should be taken to facilitate a safe transfer of a patient who had covid-19, or was suspected as having contact with a confirmed or suspected case in the hospital setting.

“On April 15 the Adult Social Care action plan was released – and this included the requirement to test all patients prior to discharge from hospital to a care home.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said it was doing “everything it could” to support care homes.

“We’ve been guided by scientific advice at every stage,” he added.

“A total of £1.3billion has been made available, via the NHS, to support the discharge process.

“This covers the follow-on care costs for adults in social care, or people in need of additional support, when they are out of hospital and back in their homes, community settings or care settings.”

The department added test kits had been offered to every care home in England for over-65s or those with dementia.

It is expected a public inquiry into the virus response will be launched when the pandemic ends.

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