Care home coronavirus deaths 'not yet at the peak', social care sector warns

Mike Padgham, from the Independent Care Group which represents social care providers in York and North Yorkshire, appeared in front of the Commons Health and Social Care committee this morning.

He called for the Government to mirror bonuses for social care staff introduced in Wales, and said there is still confusion over testing in care and nursing homes, with 53 per cent of members reporting challenges.

He said: “On April 28 we were told by the Secretary of State that tests would be carried out for all residents and staff within care homes.

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“But the advice we have been given today via communication from the Care Quality Commission is that tests should only be carried out on those with symptoms – which goes back to what we were being told weeks ago.

“The issue of testing has always been a difficult one for our homes and it has hampered our efforts to care for our residents and keep infection and death rates down. We need to have some clarity and we need it urgently.

“Sadly, as far as care and nursing homes are concerned I fear we are not yet at the peak in terms of deaths from Covid-19 and we are now the front line in the fight against the virus.”

Mr Padgham also said there are concerns that the £3.2bn pledged for local authorities is not getting to the front line.

More than 22,000 care home residents are estimated to have died in England and Wales according to LSE research, although the latest Office for National Statistics data puts the figure at 12,526 Covid-related deaths of care home residents.

Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported in almost four in 10 care homes in England, according to Downing Street.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted there had been “an appalling epidemic in care homes”.

And his official spokesman said today: “Every death from coronavirus is a tragedy and our thoughts are with all of those who have lost loved ones. Deaths in all settings including care homes are falling, the figures publishing this morning deaths from coronavirus in care homes were down from 2,423 to 1,666 this week.”

But the proportion of coronavirus deaths taking place in care homes rose, with care home deaths accounting for 42.4 per cent of coronavirus-related fatalities registered in England and Wales in the week ending May 8.

Mr Padgham said: “Today’s figures, allied to those of the previous weeks, do give us some cautious optimism that we are getting past the worst of coronavirus.

“However, we are still fearful that the relaxation of some of the lockdown measures might send figures up again and create a second spike.”

He added: “The Government still has questions to answer because PPE and testing is still a serious issue for many providers as they cope with Covid-19.”

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