The CQC has published information on why care settings do not pass the assurance process to be a designated COVID discharge setting:
- Location unsuitable – e.g. not enough separation between designated bit of service and the rest of the care home
- Location not ready – e.g. significant building work planned and impossible to assess until this is complete
- Staffing – no designated staff team to work exclusively in the designated COVID discharge setting.
As of 5 January (latest figures), there were 129 CQC IPC assured designated settings within 98 local authorities. There are a further 32 “alternative settings”, where local authorities have agreed with local NHS partners to make use of NHS settings to fulfil the role of a designated setting.
Read more information about Designated Settings on GOV.UK.





