A total of 59 patients discharged from hospital to North Ayrshire care homes were not tested for Covid-19 during the pandemic.

Between March 10 and May 19 fewer than a third – 26 out of 85 people – who were sent from wards to nursing homes got the virus tests.

So far in Ayrshire there have been 132 Covid-19 related deaths in care homes – latest figures show.

Of those 47 took place in North Ayrshire.

Tragically 22 residents have now died of suspected or confirmed coronavirus at the Fullarton Care Home, after the Irvine Times revealed the deaths at the home last month.

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.”

Across Ayrshire 168 people were sent to care homes without tests over the course of  10 weeks.

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.

The Scottish Government made it mandatory to test patients being discharged into care homes on April 21.

A North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership spokeswoman said: “We continue to work closely with all partners, including NHS Ayrshire and Arran, in relation to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We would like to assure people that every measure is being taken to protect both care home residents and staff.

“Testing for COVID-19 has been available across Ayrshire and Arran for clinical diagnosis throughout the period of the Covid-19 pandemic. North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership 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.”