Insurance


The risk landscapefor care providers is changing


Matthew Dale, account executive at Barnes Commercial Insurance Broker, explains how the challenges facing providers of elderly care in the UK during the pandemic has affected the availability of insurance for care homes


It is common knowledge that the coronavirus pandemic has brought huge challenges to the UK care sector. The increased demand for care across all sectors and the change to the way in which it is delivered means operators have had to become more flexible and responsive. This has only been possible by the hard work and dedication of those working within the industry. All care sectors have faced similar


issues during this pandemic, whether within disability care, adult care or children’s care, but elderly care is facing an additional challenge – to try and find suitable insurance for their business. At Barnes Commercial, we have seen


a change in the insurance landscape for the elderly care sector as a direct result of Covid-19. There have been increases in the premiums required by insurers for many insurance packages as potential risk increases and appetite for the sector diminishes. We have taken a look at the challenges


facing providers of elderly care in the UK and why these increased risks have had such an effect on the insurance market.


The current challenge We know that at the beginning of the outbreak last year, many companies operating care facilities were not included in vital government plans to provide suitable PPE, financial support and workforce planning. Many UK care homes in the elderly


care sector struggled to control outbreaks within their facilities as Covid began to sweep across the country. By the very nature of the working conditions and relationships between patients, families and staff, it was easy for the virus to spread causing worry. PPE was a cause for concern; locating


the right type and in the right quantities left many care providers without the right protection. The much-needed guidance


for PPE recommendations for care home workers was first published on 17 April but updated on 2 November, providing more detailed information about the types of PPE to use and how to use it and how to dispose of it. Staffing has been challenging with


vulnerable team members shielding, and isolating colleagues leaving a temporary gap in staff levels following a holiday or from exposure either inside or outside of the care home. Yet the biggest ongoing challenge


facing elderly care home operators was and remains regular testing and speedy results. Testing is vital to stop the spread of infection and is the best weapon to keep it under control while the vaccine programme is underway. However, testing kits have not been


widely available, and the UK’s track and trace system has not proved to be robust either. Care home staff are typically tested on a weekly basis, and external visitors are subject to a variety of protective procedures, which can


February 2021 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


include a temperature check and the signing of a declaration before entering the premises. The good news is that improvements


to testing capabilities are ongoing including the recent introduction of regular testing for friends and family, which will come as a welcome relief for many with relatives in care facilities. So, as restrictions change across the


country on a regular basis, care providers have had to adapt and implement new ways of working. This constant change adds additional stress to the workforce and brings increased potential for something to go wrong. All of the issues above will have been


closely monitored by the insurer market as they weigh up the exposure to risk for care providers.


Increased risks and concern for insurers Care facility proprietors will always put the care and wellbeing of their patients and residents at the heart of everything


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