Over 20,000 people took action to protect people in care homes during this pandemic

Many thanks to the tens of thousands of you who took action to protect people in care homes during the coronavirus pandemic. Your response has been incredible.

What’s been happening?

Sending thousands of patients untested from hospitals into care homes, at the height of a pandemic, was wrong and put lives at risk.

“These are individuals who have contributed to society all their lives and were denied the respect and dignity that you would give to a 42-year-old, they were [considered] expendable”  Care home owner and manager

The consequences of these decisions were enormous. Loneliness and isolation from friends and family impacted people’s mental health as well as their physical health.

A full independent public inquiry

Our campaign called for a full independent public inquiry. Since our campaign launched, there has not been an urgent independent review into deaths in care homes. This continues to be called for by the group COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice.

Regular testing for people in care homes and their families

We demanded that regular testing be made available for care home residents, staff and visitors to ensure people in care homes can be safely visited by their loved ones.

Several changes to visiting rules have been made. From 8 March 2021, people living in care homes in England will be allowed one regular visitor.

Review all ‘Do Not Attempt CPR’ 

We called for the government to review all 'Do Not Attempt CPR' orders on care home residents that have been added without proper process. Blanket ‘Do Not Attempt CPR’ orders imposed without considering a person’s individual circumstances, is unacceptable - they violate a person’s right to life and health.

Since our campaign launched, Do Not Attempt Resuscitation orders have been reviewed. But there has since still been reports of serious problems.

You can download and read the full report As if expendable at amnesty.org.uk/care-homes-report.