18 care homes in the county had at least 10 Covid deaths
SOME care homes in Leicestershire saw more than 20 deaths linked to Covid-19 among their residents during the first year of the pandemic.
New figures published by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have revealed the devastating impact of the virus on individual care homes across the country for the first time.
The data shows 690 deaths involving Covid-19 were registered by 130 care providers in Leicestershire from April 10, 2020 to March 31 this year.
That includes residents whose deaths were suspected or confirmed to have resulted from Covid-19.
It counts deaths of residents under the care of the provider that notified the death to the CQC, regardless of where the virus was contracted or where the death occurred.
Peaker Park Care Village in the county council area reported the most coronavirus deaths in Leicestershire, at 38 - among the highest numbers of any care home in England that provided figures.
That was followed by Everdale
Grange (29) and Langdale View (22), both in Leicester.
Overall, 18 homes across Leicestershire reported at least 10 deaths each.
Across England, 39,265 deaths were reported between April 10, 2020 to March 31 this year.
Nearly 7,000 homes reported at least one death, with just over 1,200 reporting 10 or more and 152 recording at least 20.
Kate Terroni, CQC’s chief inspector of adult social care, said: “In considering this data it is important to remember that every number represents a life lost – and families, friends and those who cared for them who are having to face the sadness and consequences of their death.”
She said the figures aimed to provide a more comprehensive picture of the impact of Covid-19 on care homes, the people living in them and their families.
Ms Terroni added: “It is important to be clear, however, that although this data relates to deaths of people who were care home residents, many of them did not die in or contract Covid-19 in a care home.” Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, said: “No matter how many reports of deaths in care homes we’ve seen over the last 18 months, data like this brings it all home once again and hits us where it hurts.
“Our thoughts today are particularly with everyone who has been directly affected, whether as care home residents, staff, family or friends.
“It would be easy to assume that if a care home has experienced a large volume of Covid19 deaths that must mean it’s not very good, but this would be unfair.
“The care homes that have been impacted the worst are generally in areas where there have been lots of Covid-19 cases in the local community, so this is more a tragic accident of geography than anything else.”
She added that the figures once again highlighted the case for reforming and refinancing social care so every older person who needs it can get high-quality support.
Care homes across England found themselves at the centre of the first wave of the pandemic last year as residents returning from hospitals were not required to be tested for the virus beforehand until mid-April. Critics believe care homes were hit much harder as a result, as they say this allowed the virus to spread faster.
Of the deaths reported across Leicestershire in the last year, 45 per cent happened during the first wave - between April 10 and the end of June last year.
That compared to 47 per cent over the same period across England as a whole.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “Every death from coronavirus is a tragedy and our deepest sympathies are with everyone who has lost loved ones.
“Throughout the pandemic we have done all we can to protect vulnerable people in adult social care.
“We have provided billions of pounds to support the sector including on infection and prevention control measures, free PPE, priority vaccinations and additional testing.”
In considering this data it is important to remember that every number represents a life lost Kate Terroni