Prime Minister cannot afford to alienate key workers with care home comments - The Yorkshire Post says

Though Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the Prime Minister was “certainly not blaming care homes”, his comments have undoubtedly touched a nerve with dedicated care staff who have been doing their utmost for some of the most vulnerable people up and down the country.

His words have been described as “clumsy and cowardly” and “hugely insulting”, with many in the industry believing Mr Johnson is trying to shift the blame for Covid-19 deaths onto care homes.

Mr Sharma says Mr Johnson had actually been pointing out that “nobody knew what the correct procedures were”, a worrying assertion in itself.

Indeed, Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, which represents care providers in York and North Yorkshire, says staff have “worked miracles”, having been “operating in the dark” in the face of “slow and conflicting advice”.

Perhaps of even greater concern is the warning from MPs that the Government still does not have “robust” plans in place to ensure care homes and hospitals have the PPE they need in the event of a second wave. Rather than criticising the tireless efforts of a group of key workers, it is this that ought to be the Prime Minister’s focus.

Staff in care settings are doing a sterling job in extremely difficult circumstances and he would do well to encourage a united front, supporting – not alienating – many of those on the frontline as the battle against the virus continues.

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