From Freedom of Information requests, the Bureau has obtained the first official figures showing the impact of the pandemic on those receiving home care: more than 25,000 people in England who received care in their own homes died during the pandemic, and almost 3,000 in Scotland.

Our analysis finds a 49% rise in deaths over 12 months in England, suggesting death rates more than doubled in 38 English council areas - and more than tripled in 10. Less than one in ten of these deaths was thought to be Covid related.

Fazilet Hadi, of the charity Disability Rights UK, told the Bureau: “The dramatic increase in deaths of people receiving domiciliary care during the pandemic appears to be truly shocking. It is very important that the figures are further analysed.”

In Scotland, the rise in deaths was 71%. Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie and the head of Scottish Care Dr Donald Macaskill both called for an inquiry.