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Lessons must be learned from pandemic care home policy, union warns as Hancock's messages leaked
Former cabinet minister Matt Hancock speaks to the media at BBC Broadcasting House in London

LESSONS must be learned from the government’s care home policy during the pandemic, a union leader warned today, as an investigation revealed that Matt Hancock failed to follow professional guidance.

More than 100,000 leaked WhatsApp messages revealed today that England’s chief medical officer Professor Sir Chris Whitty told then-health secretary in April 2020 there should be testing for “all going into care homes.”

The exchanges suggest Mr Hancock ultimately rejected the guidance, telling an aide the move just “muddies the waters” before introducing mandatory testing only for those coming from hospitals rather than the community.

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