Just like you, we followed the best advice there was
■ The prime minister said many care homes did not follow proper procedures on coronavirus (Metro, Tue).
As CEO of a charity that delivers care in nursing and care homes across Surrey and Kent, when the lockdown was declared I, like many others in my field, had closed down the hatches ten days earlier based on the best advice available. The central advice for the first few weeks was confused and that was expected – this was a changing world.
We restricted staff movements, limited home visits and changed our IT systems to allow better communication with the outside world. Before testing was available we ensured that anyone who came from hospital was isolated for 14 days, with the same staff only supporting them. At hugely inflated prices, we bought hand sanitisers, test kits and PPE.
We did this in line with the understandably ever-changing government advice. This was at a time when we lost all our fundraising events overnight, a situation predicted to lose us £1million this year. But did we go out and say it’s your fault, Mr Prime Minister? No. We followed guidance and added additional levels of precaution ourselves. We made decisions based on science advice and risk assessment. Isn’t that what you did?
Karen Deacon, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People
■ Please don’t let me be alone in being absolutely flabbergasted at Boris Johnson seeking to distance himself and his government from the catastrophic decision at the beginning of this insanity to discharge 25,000-plus sick, elderly people from hospitals to unprepared, ill-equipped care homes where – guess what? – many died. This action was nothing short of statesponsored euthanasia.
Bob Rowley, Bristol
■ Care homes have always had a responsibility with regards to infection control. About 85 per cent of them are privately owned and it’s the responsibility of the owner to protect its staff and residents. When I worked in care homes, aprons and gloves were changed between each and every resident to prevent cross-infection.
All care homes should have had a good supply of PPE. Hospitals discharged elderly people into care homes without