Daughter of suspected Covid victim launches legal action against Matt Hancock
Woman whose father died in care home demands that health secretary retract his ‘protective ring’ claim
A woman whose father died in an Oxfordshire care home of suspected Covid-19 has launched a High Court action against the health secretary, NHS England and Public Health England.
Dr Cathy Gardner is seeking an acknowledgement that “the treatment of care homes up to and during the pandemic was unlawful”, Sky News reports.
Her 88-year-old father, Michael Gibson, died of “probable” Covid-19 on 3 April, after a patient who tested positive for the virus was discharged from hospital into his care home.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Guardian reports that 35 councils have also blamed the spread of the virus “on discharges with hospital patients sent to homes that did not have sufficient protective equipment and/or facilities to isolate infected residents”.
The government has advised since 15 May that all patients discharged from hospitals should be tested for coronavirus. But “by the time the government said they were going to introduce testing, people had already died”, says Gardner, a microbiologist with a PhD in virology.
She initially wrote to Hancock and the heads of the NHS at the beginning of June asking that they accept they had failed to protect people’s human rights, reports the BBC.
However, according to Gardner and her solicitors, the government and health bosses have failed to take responsibility or to provide evidence of the health secretary’s claim that policies were implemented to put a “protective ring” around care homes “right from the start”.
"I am bringing this case now so that the plight of residents and staff at care homes is not allowed to be given low priority again,” said Gardner, who is crowdfunding for her legal fees.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Less than total recall
Editor's Letter Why our brains want to forget the darkest days of the pandemic
By Theunis Bates Published
-
'A wonky bureaucratic tweak has dramatically changed how Americans drive'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
'Making Russia pay for its aggression with its own assets has undeniable moral and practical appeal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published