Posted on Wednesday 21st July 2021
The CQC today (Wednesday) published a report on the number of Covid deaths in care homes across the country during the pandemic. One care home in Staffordshire was among those to see more than 30 deaths.
Julia Jessel, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Care, paid tribute to care homes and their staff for their selfless dedication and hard work in helping to care for the most vulnerable residents in Staffordshire.
Julia said:
“On the whole, our care homes have done a fantastic job and done the very best they can in the face of a pandemic none of us have experienced before. The impact on families, residents and on the people who care for them has been truly heart-breaking.
“Today’s report by the CQC captures the number of deaths by individual care homes, but it is important to stress this is not a reflection on the care provided by individual homes and the efforts of staff who have gone above and beyond during this pandemic.”
Since the start of the pandemic the county council has:
- Provided more than six million free pieces of PPE
- Given around an extra £22m of support, to cover staff isolation costs, agency worker recruitment and help with infection control
- Deployed volunteers to support care homes
- Provided daily support in managing outbreaks in settings seven days a week
DrRichard Harling, the county council’s Director for Health and Care and the Chair of West Midlands Association of Directors of Adult Social Care, said
“Our care homes have been on the frontline since this pandemic began.
“The most frail in the community and particular those nearing end of life or with pre-existing health issues were always going to face the biggest risk, but staff in Staffordshire care homes continued to work day in and day out at a time when nobody really knew how this pandemic would unfold.
“Care homes and their staff deserve our thanks and admiration for what they have done and today’s report serves as reminder of the challenges they all faced.”