Care home residents ‘abandoned’ as visits and inspections stopped
CARE home residents feel “totally abandoned” with family visits restricted and inspections paused, a charity has warned, accusing regulators of failing to represent the needs of the sector.
The Relatives and Residents Association (R&RA) has written to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) expressing disappointment at the role it has taken during the pandemic.
Chairwoman Judy Downey said it had failed most crucially over personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing.
Even as the challenge in care homes became evident, the CQC had not swiftly challenged guidance that said it was “very unlikely” that anyone receiving care would become infected with Covid-19, she said.
Ms Downey also said its delays in producing figures on the deaths in care homes “resulted in the Government not being made
UNDER STRAIN: aware of the true seriousness of the situation”.
Her letter reads: “No reassurance was provided for residents or their representatives on how safety and wellbeing would be promoted with the disappearance of visits from family members and others.
“Many remain anxious about the impact which visiting restrictions and isolation measures are having, and the deterioration of their physical and mental health as a direct result.”
The regulator said on March 16 that it was suspending routine inspections of care homes and hospitals, except for “in a very small number of cases” where there are “concerns of harm, such as allegations of abuse”.
But it said keeping people safe remains at the heart of its decision making, and it will continue to inspect and respond to whistleblowing concerns.
CQC chief executive Ian Trenholm said: “We made a decision to stop routine inspections during the outbreak in part to protect people by limiting the number of people entering homes and risking the further spread of the virus.
“But we are continuing to inspect in response to whistleblowing concerns and where we see evidence of risk of harm, deliberate abuse, systematic neglect or a significant breakdown in leadership.”
VILLAGERS HAVE banded together to form a virtual choir in rural North Yorkshire, charting celebrations and daily life under lockdown in a global pandemic.
Inspired by the uplifting spirit of the Queen’s speech, Janet Sanderson, a county councillor for the area, hoped to bring residents together as the mood in Thornton-le-Dale had dipped.
There is a VE Day tribute, featuring pictures of residents who served and the army camp in the village, as well as a section celebrating the area’s community groups. Villagers submitted clips singing We’ll Meet Again, which formed the choir backing for a film, which will now be extended to record a fuller picture.
“It has been an amazing journey with some quite poignant stories of loyalty and dedication to the village both then and now,” said Coun Janet Sanderson.