Comment


CQC Covid data must be not be forgotten


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 August issue of The Care Home Environment. Late last month, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published granular data that laid bare the grisly extent of Covid-19 in English care homes during the first and second waves of the pandemic. The figures make for sobering reading. Between 10 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, there


were 39,265 resident deaths involving Covid – over half occurring in the first three months of the crisis. The CQC data shows deaths notified by nearly 7,000 individual care homes in England


- 152 care homes of which recorded deaths of at least 20 residents, and 21 where 30 or more residents died with Covid. One care home in Leigh, near Wigan, reported a scarcely believable 44 Covid-related deaths. It should be noted, however, that half of the deaths recorded occurred in 1,400 of the


around 15,500 English care homes. Furthermore, 56 per cent of establishments did not have a single death attributed to Covid.


The statistics should be viewed in context and that the individual care home data is no reflection of care quality


The CQC and the much of the rest of the sector was keen to stress the statistics should


be viewed in context and that the individual care home data is no reflection of the quality of care provided. CQC chief inspector for adult social care Kate Terroni also pointed out that although


the data relates to deaths of people who were care home residents, many of them did not die in or contract Covid-19 in a care home. The data covers deaths of residents involving Covid-19 under the care of the provider as notified to the CQC, regardless of where the death occurred, including in the care home, in a hospital, in an ambulance or any other setting. For example, a resident may have been admitted to hospital with a fracture and


contracted Covid-19 while in hospital, and then subsequently died. Furthermore, the CQC carried out inspections looking specifically at infection


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.


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prevention control in care homes between 10 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 across eight key criteria, such as staff training, PPE adequacy, care home layout and adherence to social distancing and shielding - and they found generally high levels of assurance. My thoughts go out to the bereaved as well as the many thousands of dedicated care


home staff – many of who put themselves at risk – and hope the data serves as a reminder that meaningful sector reform needs to be secured and implemented.


Tim Probert • Editor timprobert@stepcomms.com


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August 2021 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


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