1 in 8 care homes record cases

ONE in eight care homes in Wales has had at least one coronavirus infection, it has emerged, as a union organiser claimed a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) was leaving staff “scared to go to work”.

Jo Findlay is health worker union Unison’s regional organiser for Anglesey and Gwynedd and says the picture is consistent across North Wales.

While supplies of safety equipment for those working in council-run care facilities are starting to “drip through”, members working in private care homes are still dealing with sub-standard or no equipment at all.

Her comments came as the Care Inspectorate Wales revealed 134 out 1,054 registered care homes in Wales had suffered at least one Covid-19 infection.

She said: “PPE is the big thing that’s devastating and it’s been really difficult for our members.

“Gwynedd and Anglesey members are saying PPE supplies are coming through in council run homes and it’s good that local authorities are taking productive steps.

“Particularly in private sites, there are still issues and we are trying to sort this out. We are hearing of members scared to go to work because of inadequate provision of safety equipment. We are hearing of flimsy and ill-fitting masks and members having to source PPE elsewhere because they can’t rely on their employers - it’s shocking.

“They are absolute professionals going to work in these conditions. It’s devastating for service users because it places everyone at high risk.”

She said the issues were a combination of a lack of supplies and some care home owners not wanting to pay for the equipment.

The union is calling on Welsh government and local authorities to makes sure PPE is “adequately distributed”.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We have received Unison’s letter and will respond shortly. By the end of this week we will have provided 11.8m items of PPE for social care settings. Arrangements are in place for homes to access PPE via their local authority.”