NEWS
COVID VACCINE OFFERED TO ALL CARE HOMES IN ENGLAND, NHS
CONFIRMS Every eligible elderly care home in England has been offered the COVID-19 vaccine, the NHS confirmed on 1st
February.
In a major milestone for the NHS vaccination programme, nurses, GPs and other NHS staff have offered the life-saving jab to people living at more than 10,000 care homes with older residents.
The small remainder have had their visits deferred by local directors of public health for safety reasons during a local outbreak. The NHS has said that these homes will be visited and vaccinated as soon as NHS staff are allowed to do so.
Speaking at the time of the announcement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Today marks a crucial milestone in our ongoing race to vaccinate the most vulnerable against this deadly disease.
“We said we would prioritise and protect care home residents, and that is exactly what we have done.
“There will be difficult moments to come, and the number of cases and people in hospital remains dangerously high.
“But vaccines are our route out of the pandemic and, having protected 8.9 million people with a first dose so far, our rollout
programme will only accelerate from here on.”
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “The delivery of the vaccine to all care homes for older people is a wonderful achievement and one that pays testament to the hard work of care home staff and our colleagues in the NHS and Local Authorities.
“We now look forward to working in partnership to deliver the government’s ambitious programme for administration of the second dose and rolling the programme out to people with learning disabilities living in care homes and supported living settings.”
Vic Rayner, Executive Director of National Care Forum, said: “This is an amazing outcome – and a clear example of care and health working together to achieve the best for the most vulnerable members of society. It is partnership that has got us to this place, with everyone doubling down to get the job done. It is a testament to both the care homes who have managed to ensure all available residents and staff were supported to receive the vaccine and the fantastic team of NHS community health colleagues who delivered in record time.”
Vaccinations are now being administered at more than 250 hospitals, over 1,000 GP-led services, 117 high street pharmacies and 47 large-scale vaccination centres across the country with more coming online over the coming days and weeks.
THE CARE WORKERS’ CHARITY LAUNCHES MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT PROGRAMME The Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) has launched a pivotal Mental Health Support Programme in response to the crisis of mental ill-health faced by the UK’s social care workforce.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the already fragile mental health of our social care workforce. Care workers are struggling with insomnia, anxiety, depression and PTSD as a direct result of their role and evidence from the Government Select Committee points to a great many more care workers facing ‘total burnout’.
It is crucial that those who are struggling are supported properly. Yet, many care workers are not eligible for bespoke therapy, and those that are, are unable to afford its cost.
To ensure that no care worker is leſt without support, The Care Workers’ Charity has launched its Mental Health Support Programme. The Programme will provide up to 10 sessions with a qualified therapist through Red Umbrella, an accredited mental health organisation. The cost of all these sessions will be paid for by The Care Workers’ Charity, and will help care workers’ better cope with the challenges they are facing.
Karolina Gerlich, Executive Director of The Care Workers’ Charity, said: “Every day, care workers go above and beyond to
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provide much-needed support- this has been especially true during the pandemic, which has put their mental health under additional strain.
“Our Mental Health Support Programme aims to bridge the shortfall in mental health resources for those working in the social care sector; which we hope will not only improve individual wellbeing and resilience in the short term, but also go a long way towards increasing staff retention rates, reducing workforce shortages, as well as leaves of absence and sickness related to mental ill health.”
This Programme is only possible because of the funding it receives. To help CWC to support care workers in crisis, you can donate to the appeal here: https://
thecareworkerscharity.enthuse.com/cf/mental-health- appeal
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