Not be left behind

ON TUESDAY, Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) published startling new figures relating to all deaths in Welsh care homes.

It reported that 2,165 adult care home residents had lost their lives over a two-month period between March 1 and May 8.

To put this into context, that figure was almost double (98%) the number of deaths reported for the same period last year, and 61% higher than in 2018.

Clearly a factor in this substantial increase can be attributed to the coronavirus pandemic which has disproportionately affected the elderly and those with underlying and chronic health conditions.

The CIW figures showed that nearly a quarter (23%) of all reported fatalities over the period in question were from suspected or confirmed Covid-19.

While some of these deaths were unavoidable – given the unpredictable nature of this novel virus – it could be argued that many of them could have been prevented.

Many leaders in the care sector have stated from the outset that Wales and the rest of the UK have been “behind the curve” in almost every aspect of tackling the Covid19 pandemic.

They have claimed efforts of the governments in Westminster and Wales were focused almost exclusively on the NHS, with social care remaining “at the back of the queue”.

Care Forum Wales chairman Mario Kreft has been among those critical of the country’s “shambolic” Covid-19 preparations.

He described testing of staff and residents as slow and haphazard, while provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) was belated and inadequate.

Thankfully, earlier this month the Welsh Government did change its course of action, announcing that all residents and staff of care homes would now be tested should one person have typical symptoms of the virus.

But this welcome news has come too late for the many people who have already fallen victim to the virus and their heartbroken families.

And despite Welsh Government policy changing for the better, the Health Minister himself has expressed concerns about the pace and inconsistency of testing in these settings.

It is imperative that our elderly and at-risk population in care homes feel safe and supported during the crisis and are no longer left behind.