Calls for swift vaccine care homes rollout to avoid ‘disaster’ repeat

HOPES are being pinned on a swift vaccine rollout to avoid repeating the 'disastrous' early stages of the pandemic, as care homes in Hampshire have recorded their highest number of weekly Covid deaths since May.

According to the latest figures from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) there were 23 coronavirus related deaths in care homes across the county between December 25 and 31.

A total of 17 of these occurred in the Hampshire County Council area and six in Portsmouth.

This is the highest weekly figure for the county since May 9 to 15 when 47 were recorded and follows a period between June and September where some weeks there were none. It is also a considerable increase compared to the two weeks prior to December 25 when the county recorded a total of 14 deaths.

Helen Atkinson, the director of public health at Portsmouth City Council, explained that all communities across Hampshire were seeing an increase in infections.

'The new variant of the virus has a much higher rate of transmission,' she said.

'Inevitably and tragically, this is likely to lead to more deaths related to Covid-19.

'However, the vaccination programme has begun for staff and residents in care homes and in Portsmouth the council, NHS and its partners continue to support all those providing care to manage Covid-19 as safely as possible and to respond to cases and outbreaks.'

The total number of Covid-linked deaths in care homes in the Hampshire County Council area since records began on April 10 is now 512, making it the second worst hit spot in the country after Kent, which has had 572.

In Portsmouth care homes there have been a total of 50 and in Southampton there have been 63.

South East regional secretary for union Unison, Steve Torrance, said: 'There can be no repeat of the disastrous situation that occurred in Hampshire care homes during the first wave. Care workers know they must remain vigilant, but they need more support to protect vulnerable care home residents.

'The vaccine rollout for all residents and staff can’t come soon enough. In the meantime, continuing delays to testing are putting workers, their families, and the people they care for at risk.

'Safety assessments in all homes need urgent revision in light of the new variants. And all care staff who fall ill or need to isolate should receive full pay to help stop the spread of the virus.'

In England there were 617 care home deaths linked to Covid between December 25 and 31, up from 509 the previous week.