It said the government's “focus on supporting hospitals meant assistance to social care providers was neglected”. Between March 2020 and July 2020, the DHSC provided NHS trusts with 1.9 billion items of PPE, equivalent to 80% of their estimated need. In contrast, it provided the adult social care sector with 331 million items of PPE, equivalent to10% of its estimated need. The high demand for PPE meant social care providers were unable to get stocks from their usual suppliers, and “consequently some providers ran out of PPE”. These shortages were in part because some supplies were diverted to the NHS, stated the PAC report. Meanwhile, around 25,000 patients were discharged to care homes from hospitals over this time, some without being tested for Covid-19.