A health board in South Wales has launched an investigation into allegations that safeguarding procedures were bypassed when discharging two patients to a local care home.

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which runs Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, launched the probe following the complaints from Aria care home which is run by Arcadia Care Homes.

Arcadia Care Homes director Ali al-Mufti told Caring Times both residents had been returned by their families without notification from the hospital.

“Both residents came back with nothing but a medication list but in both instances medication was changed and we weren’t informed of that or why that had been done so we had to chase that up after the resident was already with us,” al-Mufti said.

One of the patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 was sent back to the home without the proper protocols being followed.

“We informed the family that we could not isolate the lady properly because she was a wanderer and she would be safer in hospital,” al-Mufti told us.

“She had already been told by the nurse earlier in the day that the doctor wanted to keep her in for observation. The next day she came back with two negative LFD tests and a discontinuation of her anti-psychotic with no reason or warning.

“I wouldn’t say we felt pressure at any time, however, what’s the most disappointing is that during Covid that there were residents in hospital without Covid and the hospital would ask if we could take them back with their support. That has not happened in this case. Nobody has picked up the phone and said look we are in real trouble we are bursting at the seams, can you take this person back now if we make sure a nurse visits in the next couple of days?

“In both cases the residents were fine but were simply sent back when the hospital felt it was fine to do so. We would happily take the person back as long as we know they are getting the right care between us and them.”

A spokesman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “It would be inappropriate to comment while investigations are ongoing. The welfare of our patients will always be our highest priority, and we take any allegations of safeguarding concerns very seriously.

“We adhere to the national and local testing guidance and protocols when discharging patients from our hospitals.

“However, it’s important to note that patients can produce a positive result in the days following their hospital PCR test.”