Devon care home asked staff with Covid to work, inquest hears

“I felt very uneasy about this, but I was not on the ground and Joanne Burchell had to make the very hard choice between the real dangers, possibly choking or falling, on one hand, and Covid exposure on the other,” he said.

“With two people who were already Covid-positive, she felt that seemed like the less risk.

“I was quite shell-shocked by the conversation because it was very, very difficult. She made the decision she made in the best interests and overall safety of the residents.

“I didn’t like it and didn’t really want to do it but it was her decision as the care professional on the ground.”

Mr Neal said Mrs Burchell had told him the care worker would be working on his own and only with patients with Covid-19.

The inquest previously heard from Jemma Turner, the nursing home’s deputy manager, who alleged a night-time nurse refused to wear a facemask and was claiming “Covid was a conspiracy”.

Mr Neal told the hearing he regretted not dismissing the nurse who had refused to wear a mask.

“I feel really upset and I feel really disappointed,” he said.

Other staff alleged Ms Burchell had not sent sick staff home due to shortages and had ignored positive lateral flow tests results.

The hearing heard that Ms Burchell and the nurse who refused to wear a mask were both arrested and interviewed by the police but no further action was taken against them.