‘ Ring of protection’ call for care homes

A TESTING ring of protection needs to surround care homes if a second wave of the coronavirus strikes, say campaigners.

Despite a Government promise in July to regularly test up to two million staff and residents, plans were halted and no other policy has been introduced.

A lack of regular testing means many care homes are still banning family visits leaving residents lonely and isolated.

Others, particularly those suffering from dementia, are confused and cannot understand why they have been abandoned, according to the Silver Voices campaign group for older people. Now it wants ministers to set a firm early date for guaranteed access to Covid- 19 testing each week.

Director Dennis Reed said: “The Government must start to deliver on its promises of support for care homes, otherwise the homes will again be the killing ground for a second wave of the pandemic.

“We are calling for a testing ring of protection to be thrown around care homes to protect those most vulnerable.”

There were 30,000 excess deaths between March and June in care homes in England and Wales compared to the same period in 2019. Campaigners believe about one in 10 residents has died as result of the crisis.

Blunders included a lack of personal protective equipment, the discharge of untested elderly hospital patients into care homes and a lack of testing.

Testing was planned to start on July 6, but delayed. Officials said the earliest date by which testing kits would reach all care homes was yesterday. That has not happened, critics say.