Act now to stop second care hell

MINISTERS have been warned to act quickly to stop a second Covid-19 wave rampaging through care homes.

More than 20,000 old and vulnerable residents are feared to have died so far in the pandemic – with ministers accused of prioritising the NHS and “throwing care homes to the wolves”.

Now care industry chiefs have called on MPs to give social care “parity with the health service” before any second spike in infections.

Nadra Ahmed, chair of the National Care Association, said: “We must learn from what has happened – sooner rather than later. Decisions made in the NHS should be made in social care too.” Shadow care minister

Liz Kendall said: “The Government must give social care the focus, resources and support it needs to plan for

Home boss Waluube any potential second wave.” Deaths in care homes hit 400 a day during the first wave amid allegations the Government failed to fully protect the care sector.

And experts fear up to 1,000 homes will close because of the economic effects of coronavirus.

ACCUSED

Care-home boss Roger Waluube, 44, lost half his residents – 10 people – at Pelham House, in Folkestone, Kent, after a 96-year-old war veteran was admitted from hospital without being tested.

Mr Waluube accused the Tories of “abandoning” the sector. He said: “Matt Hancock said there was a protective ring around care homes.

“If there was, I can’t describe what it looked like.”

A Government spokesman said: “We know there is a need for a long-term solution for social

care.”