Anger that jail inmates to get jab before police
OFFICERS’ REP CALLS ON PM TO ‘MAKE IT RIGHT’
POLICE have reacted with fury to a decision to vaccinate prison inmates against coronavirus before them and other key frontline workers.
The Police Federation fears the move will result in a “perverse” scenario of criminals jailed for coughing or spitting at officers and claiming to be carrying Covid-19 being treated before their victims.
The priority was determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Adam Commons, chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: “This news is a new low.
“I always knew that it would be a battle to get my colleagues placed in the vaccination roll-out plan, but a month ago I’d have probably said we were making progress.
“The right people seemed to be listening – the vaccine minister, the Home Secretary. But in the last couple of weeks the narrative has shifted.
“First, we had the health minister casually drop the line on live television that we would have to wait until yet another phase.
“But we now see a perverse situation arising where we could have someone sent to prison for assaulting a police officer and yet while they’re serving their sentence, they are likely to receive a vaccination jab.
“Can anyone really explain how this works?
“My colleagues have been out there from day one, vilified by the media for handing out fines to support the government’s lockdown’s and tier systems, sitting in hospitals filled with Covid patients while they look after people under arrest and keeping NHS staff safe.
“I could write pages about everything they have been doing. Through it all they’ve had the stress of picking up the virus and taking it home to their families – and it has happened.
“To the Prime Minister, I say this – we don’t forget. Please don’t bother standing at a lectern telling the world how much you love us, because it’s just meaningless words.
“You can still make this right. Protect the police who have protected the country.”
Chief Constable Simon Cole and police and crime commissioner Lord (Willy) Bach have echoed the police federation’s concerns.
The JCVI has said vaccinating people in order of age is the fastest way to cut Covid-19 deaths and giving people priority based on their jobs could slow down the whole programme.
SITE RATED INADEQUATE BY TEAM OF
A “DISTRESSED and tearful” pensioner said they were “lonely, bored and frightened” while isolating due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the care home where they lived.
The resident at Livesey Lodge, in Sapcote, told inspectors how they were feeling when the Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited after concerns were raised about infection control and staff levels.
Staff said the person concerned was “constantly anxious” and “really needs someone with them all the time”.
The home was experiencing an outbreak of Covid-19 when inspectors visited in December. A report rating the home inadequate was published last week.
The CQC said people “using the service, staff and visitors were not protected from the risk of being exposed to infectious diseases” and that government guidance was not being followed.
“The shortfalls identified meant robust action had not been taken to ensure the risk of the further spread of infection had been minimised,” the report said.
Inspectors found there was “a significant risk of cross-contamination” because used PPE and incontinence wear was not disposed of correctly.
Schedules reviewed by the CQC showed bedrooms had not been cleaned for at least two weeks.
The regular housekeeper was not present at the service when the CQC visited, the registered manager was criticised for not making “suitable arrangements to ensure robust cleaning of the service continued” in their absence.
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, some people were isolating in their rooms when the CQC was on site but inspectors said there was no clear information as to when each person’s period of isolation began and ended.
“The staff on duty were unable to give us this information,” they recorded.
Staffing had been an issue when the CQC last inspected the home and improvements did not appear to have been made.
The report said: “Staff said and rotas confirmed they were consistently working long hours undertaking multiple roles on top of their caring duties due to regular staff being absent from the service.
“A senior carer on duty during the inspection was working a 16-hour shift which included cleaning and laundry duties. One staff member told us they were ‘exhausted.’”
Asked about the home’s whistleblowing policy which should have been updated more than a year ago, a staff member told the CQC: “Some of us see no point in going to the registered manager with concerns as they wouldn’t do anything.”
Inspectors said that the service was “not well-led” and there were “multiple failings in the provider’s response and managing the Covid19 outbreak”.
“The registered manager had not ensured government guidance for working safely in care homes was followed and this meant people and staff were continually exposed to the risk of infection,” the inspection found.
The Mercury has contacted Livesey Lodge for a comment.
A BIKER sustained serious injuries and a woman was taken to hospital after separate crashes in a village over the weekend.
The motorcyclist was airlifted to hospital following a collision in Desford Lane, near Desford, on Saturday).
Police were called at about 2.40pm to the scene of the crash, which involved a red Honda MSX125
and a black Citroen C4 car, near to the junction with Botcheston Road.
The motorcyclist, a man in his 30s, was taken to University Hospital Coventry by air ambulance with serious injuries. He remains in hospital.
No other injuries have been reported, police said.
The woman had earlier been injured in a two-car collision that shut a county road for almost nine hours.
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers were called at 10.15am to a two-car collision in Leicester Lane, Desford.
“East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Fire and Resmotorcycle cue Service were also called to the scene.
“A woman was taken to hospital following the incident. She is not believed to have suffered serious injuries.
“A mains cable was damaged following the collision. Road closures were therefore in place to allow this to be fixed and power to be restored.”
The road was open again by about 7pm.
The spokeswoman said: “Officers are appealing to anyone with any information, who has not yet spoken to police, to make contact.
“Anyone who witnessed either incident or who saw either of the vehicles beforehand, and who has not yet spoken to police, is asked to make contact.
“Anyone with any dashcam footage from the area at the time of the incident is also urged to get in touch.”