A total of 168 patients were discharged from Ayrshire hospitals to care homes without being tested for Covid-19 during the pandemic.

Sixty-three people released from wards went to homes in South Ayrshire between March 10 and May 19 without tests first.

So far in Ayrshire there have been 130 Covid-19 related deaths in care homes – latest figures show. Forty-nine took place in South Ayrshire.

Tory councillor Hugh Hunter said: “The extent of the deaths suffered in our care homes over recent months have shocked us all.

“Clearly, anyone being discharged from hospital should have been tested before being sent into a care home.

Councillor Hunter, who sits on the South Ayrshire Integration Joint Board monitoring health, said: “This is further evidence of why every death in a care home, either locally or across the country, needs to be investigated.”

Out of 273 patients who left hospitals between March 10 and May 19 in Ayrshire – less than half – 105 were tested.

Eleven results came back positive while 94 were negative.

The figures were revealed following a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Ayrshire Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Nurse director Hazel Borland at the health board said: “Testing for Covid-19 has been available in Ayrshire and Arran for clinical diagnosis throughout the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

She added: “NHS Ayrshire and Arran has followed the national guidance on testing, including testing for patients who had finished their acute care and were ready for discharge to a care home.”

Ms Borland said the board “is committed to providing safe, effective and quality patient care, and this has been even more important to our staff, patients and their families during this worrying pandemic period.”

Twenty-two people with suspected coronavirus died at Berelands House Care Home in Prestwick. South Lodge Care Home residents and staff in Ayr contracted the deadly infection.

Glenfairn House Care Home on the same street, Racecourse Road, also suffered an outbreak.

The Scottish Government made it mandatory to test patients being discharged into care homes on April 15.