BACKGROUND

Public Health England in collaboration with NHS England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Department for Health and Social Care have issued new guidance: “Discharge into care homes: designated settings”.

The guidance relates to people who:

• are being discharged from hospital;
• have received a positive Covid-19 test result; and
• are being transferred to a care home.

The guidance aims to support the safe discharge of people leaving hospital who have tested positive for Covid-19 and to protect care home residents and staff from infection.

In certain specific situations, these people may be required to be transferred to a "step-down or designated setting" rather than returning to their original care home. Local Authorities and CCGs may be involved with the set up of these “designated or step-down settings.”