To think care home bosses should take some responsibility for Covid infections in homes

[JustAsking1837]

This is just in response to criticism over Boris Johnson's comments. Sorry if this has already been done but I've not found any threads on this surprisingly. I am no fan of Boris or the Government but day in day out I have listened to the press savagely criticise the Government no matter what it does or doesn't do and is blamed for everything. However everyone is in uproar when Boris has suggested that many care homes may have not done everything they should have to prevent infections. I am not necessarily saying they are to blame, as I don't know, but think it should be fair game for discussion.

Presumably ALL Care Homes were under similar pressure to accept patients discharged from hospital so why is it that 75% of Care Homes had no Covid deaths?

Care homes are businesses run by either corporates or individuals, to my knowledge they received no additional funding to care for the most vulnerable in our society, they and the rest of the care in the home industry were totally shafted by the government. They did the best job they could in a really really shitty situation.

I think boris even suggesting one sector is to blame having been treated for COVID himself is frankly disgusting.

And my thoughts are with all of the staff, managers and owners of the care homes and care in the home businesses and franchises.

And I hope they can all keep trading and doing a great job. The industry's is so under valued and picked apart and this is just an extension of that from our government.

No wonder they struggle to recruit staff with such a bad reputation that isn't deserved.

Presumably ALL Care Homes were under similar pressure to accept patients discharged from hospital so why is it that 75% of Care Homes had no Covid deaths?

Well that’s obvious. A certain amount of luck if the draw in terms of who got sent COVID positive patients for one thing.

Care homes struggle to recruit staff because no one wants to do work like that for that kind of money

ultimately care homes are just not viable, we have a situation where we cannot afford to provide proper care are for an ever-increasing population of elderly and completely dependent people

@NYMM

Presumably ALL Care Homes were under similar pressure to accept patients discharged from hospital so why is it that 75% of Care Homes had no Covid deaths?

@NYMM

All care homes were not under the same pressure. Some are homes are for younger people who are lower risk of being in hospital, even if they do have significant health conditions.
Some areas have a disproportionately high number of care homes and in densely populated areas where there was more spread of Covid.
Some homes have better facilities to contain people e.g. had a mechanism to better isolate Covid + residents in specific units and en-suites.

@Stifledlife

Given that 85% of care homes are privately owned, and chose to ignore the guidelines when they first came out, I completely agree with you.

My SIL works in a care home, and although they had PPE they were told not to wear it because it would frighten the residents. They also had a free flow of visitors in and out because management didn't want to stop them, and the staff were moved freely between nursing homes, again against recommendations.

She complained bitterly along with the rest of the staff, and was told if she didn't like it she could leave.

I really can't see how it's Boris's fault that the commercial sector were stupid and short sighted.

@Stifledlife

The law disagrees with you but people are conveniently ignoring this. It’s irrelevant who owns the home, if the state arranges and/or funds a care home placement, the duty of care lies with the state. There are very few care homes where there are only privately funded residents.

I've been watching this post and wondering whether to reply, here goes;
I have a small residential dementia home. We take a mix of LA and privately funded residents. I have always been keen to have a "block bed" contract with the LA which means that the LA pay for a room whether or not they fill it. On 31 March I was phoned and asked to become a block bed provider - I had two spare beds at that time. This was on a "Discharge to assess" basis - ie people discharged from hospital to me to free up NHS beds. I asked whether they would be tested for Covid - the answer was possibly not.

I had already committed to staff and residents and their families that I would do everything in my power to keep them safe, I had locked down early and had purchased all the necessary PPE from the government suppliers (they provided 300 facemasks, I purchased 1800).

I knew that there was no way I was going to agree to the block bed request, but out of interest asked how much they would be paying - they told me 1000 per week. My rates are 775 per week, and some LA funded residents are less as we have not had increased. I was shocked beyond belief. It felt like "danger" money. I was called three more times and refused to take the placements. The safety of my residents and staff was far more important than the economical benefit.

I am shocked at the amount of posts with carers saying they were not provided with PPE or told not to wear PPE by management. If this is the case I wonder why the carers did not contact CQC or Safeguarding, they had a duty to do so for the residents as well as themselves.

Facemasks however have been a massive issue and one which has gone largely unreported - the Type 11R masks I purchased had extended expiry dates (stickers saying 2021 covering up 2016 expiry dates) and the nasal strips broke down and went up our noses and in our mouths. I raised concerns on May 3 to PHE, CCG, DoH about this (in writing). On July 1 we were advised that these masks represent a risk to staff and should be disposed of. We had been wearing them 24/7 for weeks.

We have remained Covid free, long may it last, a large proportion of that is due to not accepting those discharges, locking down early and not having agency staff.

The comments by BJ last week were like a kick in the teeth.

My mum is in a nursing home, they locked down far earlier than most as they saw which way it was going. The rules they put in place were in spite of, not because of this government.
They couldn't obtain sufficient PPE, not because their head office were too tight to get it, but because it was scarce.
The team there were putting shout outs on Facebook for any kit people may have, or can make for them.
They had zero cases and maintain that status but the reason for this is due to the care and passion for 'doing the right thing' for their residents, not the government.
You ABU.

@haenow,

Which law/regulation was that? Please cite it because if it was the case then Johnson does not have a leg to stand on, does he? But I think you are referring to guidelines, not law, but feel free to correct me.

And, some care homes, I know of two in my local area, did refuse admittance to untested patients.

@Lifeisabeach09

The Care Act 2014 places the duty on the local authority. I wasn’t talking specifically about Covid19 but rather, about your comment ”Given that 85% of care homes are privately owned, and chose to ignore the guidelines”. The LA has the overarching duty of care which is why LA investigate safeguarding concerns and similar. It’s totally unacceptable for the state to say “oh they’re private homes, not our problem “. Legally, it absolutely is the responsibility of the state to ensure care homes meet acceptable standards.

@haenow,

”Given that 85% of care homes are privately owned, and chose to ignore the guidelines”.

^You've got your wires crossed--that's not my comment.

In my post upthread, I stated that the State is, ultimately, responsible but I did say and believe that care managers had/have veto power over who is admitted. Please re-read my thread.

*excuse me, reread my posts.

Apologies then we are agreeing!

Well yes. I know the government took control and failed to get PPE. I just don’t think comparing that to going to war is quite the same. The army has years to evaluate equipment and inform the MOD of procurement needs. The army evaluated what is required. They didn’t evaluate well enough. The nhs didn’t have time. At least they knew what they needed but couldn’t get it

Sorry, but in 2016 we had Exercise Cygnus, to see how the NHS etc would stand up to a global pandemic, the Govt ignored their findings and even now, will not publish its findings (like any other report that criticises the state) but one that was leaked is that we didn't have enough PPE.

The Conservatives had plenty of time but a no-deal Brexit was the priority, as it is even now.

jasjas1973
but one that was leaked is that we didn't have enough PPE

Do you have a link to that?