Comment homecare ENVIRONMENT 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
Covid-19 crisislays bare care system weaknesses
Welcome to the May edition of The Care Home Environment. It goes without saying that this is an enormously challenging time for the care sector as the coronavirus pandemic takes a grisly toll on homes up and down the UK. The problems faced have been almost overwhelming but the sector will emerge from the crisis with great credit.
Carers and managers alike have earned the respect of the nation by acting with courage and stoic professionalism despite staff shortages, a disturbing lack of testing and protective equipment, as well as questionable guidance during the critical early days of the crisis and beyond.
The pandemic has revealed some hard truths about the state of the British health and social care system. In particular, the coronavirus crisis has peeled back the skin on problems in social care that have been covered for too long. It would be churlish to talk of positives amid the often hellish situation in some British care homes but there are signs that the sector may no longer be treated as the poor relation of the health system.
The coronavirus crisis has peeled back the skin on problems in social care that have been covered for too long
THE CARE HOME ENVIRONMENT
is published in January, March, May, July, September and November 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
The pandemic has shown beyond doubt that effective social care requires more co-operation with the health system.
To that end, the crisis has already done much of the heavy lifting by forcing the health and social care to work together.
The adoption of the NHS-style ‘CARE’ badge and branding by the government attracted criticism but it points, perhaps, at a future where health and social care will be truly integrated.
When the dust settles, the government will surely have political licence to make far-reaching changes to the UK care system.
© 2020 Step Communications Ltd Single copy: £12.00 per issue. Annual journal subscription: UK £96.00 Overseas: £120.00
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.
Whether or not major change comes, of course, remains to be seen but it is clear is the impact of Covid-19 on the elderly means the government can no longer continue to boot the issue of social care provision deep in the long grass time after time.
Preparing for future epidemics will require a more resilient, more integrated health and social care system. The country cannot afford to duck awkward questions and hard decisions any longer.
Enjoy the issue and keep an eye out for our next digital edition published in June.
Tim Probert • Editor
timprobert@stepcomms.com
Follow our page on Linkedin
May 2020 •
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
Follow us on twitter: @tchemagazine
5
THE
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