I merely point out the facts. Others like to revel in the blame game.
Care homes are filled with people in need of care. This is a no brainer.
That they are vulnerable is a given.
From the nursing times:(14 August, 2017)
"Care home residents share air, space, food and equipment, so they also share organisms that can easily cause infection outbreaks, such as viruses and bacteria. They are also more prone and vulnerable to infections, which can lead to death."
The most common types of disease outbreaks in care homes are outbreaks of respiratory infections (often caused by influenza viruses), and gastrointestinal infections (often caused by noroviruses) (Utsumi et al, 2010; Strausbaugh et al, 2003). Some organisms can cause more than one type of infection; for example, Streptococcus pyogenes and multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can cause skin, urinary tract, and bloodstream infections (Steer et al, 2012; Utsumi et al, 2012).
"
In a literature review of 206 infection outbreaks in care facilities for older people, the respiratory tract was involved in 45% of outbreaks, the gastrointestinal tract in 36%, the skin in 7% and the eyes in 2%. Only four organisms – influenza virus, norovirus, salmonella and S pyogenes – made up more than 50% of all infectious agents involved (Utsumi et al, 2012)."
Seems clear to me the experts knew Covid-19 could be a severe problem based on previous knowledge. More than a whiff of incompetance in my book. Though according to your own jaundiced view it is a case of paying peanuts and getting monkeys. though of course you rather implied it rather than coming straight out and saying it. Hardly PC in my book.
It doesn't help that the staff are just about the lowest-paid in the land, receive only the most basic training and are daily confronted with some tasks that many of us would find unpleasant. Mr Shaw
and Mr Carroll
What Seve said about overworked, underpaid and unappreciated care-home workers - with knobs on

Infection in care homes has been a well-recognised problem for years. It is the professionals should have been on the ball, why not place blame where blame is due. The NHS is one of the largest employers in the world, presumably they have one or two experts on the payroll.. They are the body that took their eye off the ball, why keeping trying to shove blame on the government?

Some of these comments are in really bad taste, Iain, namely the Shipman/Liverpool pathway comments. I have removed this part of your post.