LONDON - The daughter of an 88-year-old man who died of suspected COVID-19 in a care home has formally begun legal action against the health secretary.

Sky News revealed earlier this month that Dr Cathy Gardner had served a pre-action letter on Matt Hancock demanding he retract his claim that he placed a "protective ring" around care homes, giving him 14 days to reply.

She says that after failing to receive an adequate response, legal action for judicial review has begun against the health secretary, NHS England and Public Health England.

Dr Gardner said: "The defendants have failed to engage with my concerns, failed to disclose relevant documents and have sought to hide behind procedural objections.

"This is a shameful reply when thousands of very vulnerable people have lost their lives as well as members of staff."

Dr Gardner's father Michael Gibson died on 3 April in a care home in Oxfordshire. On his death certificate it said "COVID probable".

Dr Gardner wants an acknowledgement that the treatment of care homes up to and during the pandemic was unlawful.(FA)