Yorkshire's care home death figures drop slightly as more residents vaccinated but national rates are at the highest since April last year

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Yorkshire’s care homes has dipped slightly, new figures show, but nationally they are at their highest level since the end of April last year.
Yorkshire's death rate for coronavirus cases in care homes has dropped slightly but rates nationally are at their highest since April, in the week it was announced "virtually all" residents have now had a vaccineYorkshire's death rate for coronavirus cases in care homes has dropped slightly but rates nationally are at their highest since April, in the week it was announced "virtually all" residents have now had a vaccine
Yorkshire's death rate for coronavirus cases in care homes has dropped slightly but rates nationally are at their highest since April, in the week it was announced "virtually all" residents have now had a vaccine

A hundred people died in Yorkshire’s care homes in the week leading up to January 22, according to the Office for National Statistics, down from 108 the previous week.

Yorkshire’s care home death rate is the second lowest in the country, after the North East, which had 74 deaths in the week leading up to January 22. The South East saw the greatest number of care home resident deaths with 681.

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Nearly half (45.1 per cent) of all deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to January 22 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate – the highest proportion recorded during the pandemic.

All regions of England recorded an increase in registered Covid-19 deaths in the week to January 22, the ONS said.

The latest weekly total of 2,364 care home deaths – a 37.5 per cent weekly rise – is the second highest number recorded since the pandemic began, exceeded by the week ending April 24.

Care home providers in the region have urged vigilance, warning that it is too soon to see an effect on death rates in care homes after the vaccination effort.

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Downing Street said yesterday that “virtually every” care home resident and staff member has now been offered their first dose of either the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine, and the Prime Minister confirmed on a visit to Batley that reuniting families who have a loved one in a care home is a top priority.

Mike Padgham, who chairs the Independent Care Group and owns care homes in Scarborough, said morale in homes was boosted by high levels of vaccine uptake, but urged families desperate to be reunited with loved ones to be patient.

He said: “We are getting mixed messages from the Government and some people might get the impression that the worst is now behind us and we can start to return to normality.

“The vaccine is only half the solution; we must all remain on our guard and do everything we can as a country to get these numbers down. We must be patient, keep following the rules and get on top of Covid-19.”

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Asked about morale levels of staff in care homes, Mr Padgham said: “The future looks positive later on, and people are holding their nerve at the minute.

“Morale is as good as it can be but there’s no sense of complacency.

“Staff want the public to keep following the rules and keep safe, because the second dose has got to come through.”

“Most of the country has still got to have the second dose, so it’s a bit premature at the minute to talk about visits being relaxed.”

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Dr Layla McCay, director at the NHS Confederation, said: “These figures, which show the highest proportion of deaths involving Covid recorded during the pandemic, demonstrate the tragic toll the Covid emergency continues to take.

“While there have been early signs in recent days that some of the pressure may be easing, the NHS is far from out of the woods, and while some battles have been won, the war is still raging.”