Care home DNR order so callous

■ I WAS horrified to discover that some care homes were instructed to bring in a ‘do not resuscitate’ status for residents in the Covid-19 crisis (Mirror, August 25).

And that this was done without consulting nurses, patients or their family adds another dimension to this Government’s callous disregard for care homes.

The treatment of these most vulnerable people – including the discharging of untested patients from hospitals back into nursing homes – is one of the greatest scandals of this crisis.

There have been almost 30,000 more care home deaths so far than in 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This kind of thing must not be allowed to happen again if we face a second wave.

Amanda Brown

Pulham St Mary, Norfolk

■ I have nothing but praise for the home which cared for my mum in the last difficult years of her life – but the Government and NHS England have let down all homes and residents in the pandemic. Yet I rest assured that most homes are treating their frail residents with the utmost dignity and respect in the face of coronavirus.

We need more examples of the good our carers do while revealing bad practice wherever it occurs. I would like to see social care workers rewarded with better pay and hours, less profiteering from the private sector, and higher standards.

S Rivers, North London

■ I had an idea care homes were using blanket ‘do not resuscitate’ orders because it was an easy way of dealing with very frail and sick people at a time when services were overwhelmed.

This can hardly be described as a caring attitude towards our elderly and it’s no wonder so many families are afraid of what will happen to their elderly loved ones.

These private homes bleed you dry of your savings and your home and then slap on DNR orders when the going gets hard.

Tony Howard, Salford

■ My 82-year-old mother was transferred straight from hospital into a home after a fall in March.

I’ve been told I still can’t go and see her and the only visit possible is waving at her through a window.

She has dementia and doesn’t understand why I can’t go in.

Visits start with her smiling which quickly changes to a look of blankness. Just to hold her hand would bring her comfort. It saddens me that some people are failing to follow social distancing guidelines because this leads to me not being able to hold my scared mum’s hand.

Mike Tolond

Wallasey, Merseyside

■ They have slowly been ushering in DNRs for the last few years. Working in a nursing home, you see it happening.

Anyone over 60 and people with learning disabilities, their guardians or the person themselves are asked to sign them.

It’s cruel and wicked.

Erica Perkins, Dudley, West Mids

■ So much for Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s promise to throw a protective ring around care homes during this pandemic.

It would appear the elderly are surplus to requirements for this uncaring Government.

C Rutherford, York