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Inquiry report criticises Hancock for untested care-home discharges

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 2:07 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Hancock Testifies on Discharges

Matt Hancock testified to the Covid-19 Inquiry about sending untested patients to care homes.
The inquiry report criticised him for those discharges that preceded tens of thousands of resident deaths.
Hancock told investigators the moves were the ‘least worst solution’ to free hospital capacity.
He resigned as Health Secretary in June 2021 after breaching distancing rules during an affair with aide Gina Coladangelo.

Summary

Officials Ignored Recommendations

Officials failed to act on Exercise Cygnus’s 2016 recommendations, leaving social-care surge capacity undeveloped.
The inquiry found that absent pandemic planning caused Covid-19 test and PPE shortages.
Decision-makers had to keep patients awaiting test results in hospitals or free beds for Covid-19 cases.
The lack of a coordinated surge plan increased risk to vulnerable patients awaiting discharge.

Summary

Families Urge Hancock Removal

Covid Bereaved Families for Justice UK urges minister to ask king to strip Mark Hancock of Privy Council membership.
Removal would eliminate Hancock’s “Right Honourable” title, a rare symbolic sanction.
The group launched a petition supporting the removal request.
Andy Burnham agreed to meet bereaved families after the inquiry report’s release.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the meeting on X.

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Hancock Testifies on Discharges

Matt Hancock testified to the Covid-19 Inquiry about sending untested patients to care homes.
The inquiry report criticised him for those discharges that preceded tens of thousands of resident deaths.
Hancock told investigators the moves were the ‘least worst solution’ to free hospital capacity.
He resigned as Health Secretary in June 2021 after breaching distancing rules during an affair with aide Gina Coladangelo.

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