Comment
Is the vaccine debate too late?
Editor
Tim Probert
timprobert@stepcomms.com
Online Sales Executive Matthew Moore
matthewmoore@stepcomms.com
Journal Administration
Katy Cockle
katycockle@stepcomms.com Design
Steven Dillon Publisher
Geoff King
geoffking@stepcomms.com
Publishing Director
Trevor Moon
trevormoon@stepcomms.com
THE CARE HOME ENVIRONMENT is published monthly by Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1892 779999 Fax: +44 (0)1892 616177 Email:
info@thecarehomeenvironment.com Web:
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
Welcome to the April edition of The Care Home Environment. In recent weeks, much has spoken and written about whether care staff should be mandated to be given Covid jabs. As of mid-March, one in four care staff had yet to receive a Covid jab. That compared to 97 per cent of healthcare staff, 90 per cent of clinically extremely vulnerable individuals, and 97 per cent of the over-70s. In several London boroughs, barely half of staff had received a jab by the middle of last month. It is with that sluggish take-up in mind Health Secretary Matt Hancock said compulsory vaccination is being considered by government. The pushback by social care organisations, trades unions and leading providers
like Four Seasons Health Care was firm. The consensus among the sceptics was that the government should adopt a
more persuasive approach. Rather than force staff to have vaccinations, they argued, it should be up to the individual. The government’s job, they said, should
This debate has come rather late in the day. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show more than 17,000 care home residents in England and Wales have died with Covid since the vaccine rollout began
be to educate care staff about the merits of jabs for the national good. Not all care organisations agreed. Barchester Healthcare chief executive Pete
Calveley said human rights of people living in care homes were at stake and staff should protect them by getting vaccinated. Rather than put people off working in social care – as many opponents to compulsory vaccinations argue - Calveley said some had applied to Barchester because they liked the provider’s ‘no jab, no job’ rule. There are strong arguments on both sides but this debate has come rather late
ISSN NO. 2398-3280
The Publisher is unable to take any responsibility for views expressed by contributors. Editorial views are not necessarily shared by the journal. Readers are expressly advised that while the contents of this publication are believed to be accurate, correct and complete, no reliance should be placed upon its contents as being applicable to any particular circumstances.
This publication is copyright under the Berne Convention and the International Copyright Convention. All rights reserved, apart from any copying under the UK Copyright Act 1956, part 1, section 7. Multiple copies of the contents of the publication without permission is always illegal.
in the day. Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show more than 17,000 care home residents in England and Wales have died with Covid since the vaccine rollout began on 8 December. Care home residents sadly continue to die in the hundreds every week. With so
many deaths occurring, what else will persuade the vaccine doubters? Enjoy the magazine.
Tim Probert • Editor
timprobert@stepcomms.com
Follow our page on Linkedin
April 2021 •
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
Follow us on twitter: @tchemagazine
5
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57
