Comment


Covid-19 and care homes one year on


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 March issue of The Care Home Environment. It is a year since the government announced a multi-billion funding package designed to allow up to 15,000 people to be discharged from hospital in England. That decision came a few days ahead of the government’s stay at home message on 23 March, which is more commonly referred to as the first national lockdown. It goes without saying that the social care sector bore a terrible brunt during the


early days of the pandemic and continued to do so this winter. Up to 5 February, there were 37,895 Covid-related care home resident deaths.


Data from the Office for National Statistics shows the pandemic has hit the care sector in two distinct waves. In the three-month period between the end of March and the end of June, there


were 19,602 care home resident deaths where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate. In the three-month period between 5 November and 5 February, there 15,863 deaths. While the numbers are similar, the first wave hit care homes harder as a proportion as the total number of deaths.


Care homes accounted for around 40 per cent of all Covid deaths between March and June, falling to around a quarter registered between early November and early February


Care homes accounted for around 40 per cent of all Covid deaths between March and


June, falling to around a quarter registered between early November and early February. Research by Nuffield Trust shows three-quarters of resident deaths involving Covid


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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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March 2021 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


took place in a care home, compared to 90 per cent without the virus. The other quarter of Covid-related resident deaths occurred away from a care home, such as hospitals. Nuffield Trust believes a slow and uncoordinated national response led to delays


in PPE and testing being rolled out, and the rush to free up hospital beds failed to recognise that some care homes did not have the resources to isolate Covid-positive patients. It is unclear whether the improved assistance resulted in the proportional reduction


of Covid deaths among residents in winter but what cannot be disputed is the pandemic offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to rebuild social care fit for the future. Enjoy the magazine.


Tim Probert • Editor timprobert@stepcomms.com


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