Care sector staff warning

UNIONS are warning of “catastrophic” staff shortages in care homes unless the Government scraps a deadline for workers in the sector to be vaccinated against coronavirus.

Unison said ministers should abandon the “draconian” no jab, no job policy, while the GMB warned of an “exodus” of workers.

Care workers have to get their first vaccine by September 15 and be double jabbed by November 11 or be banned from entering care homes in England.

Unison said the mandatory jab policy was partly to blame for a “severe staffing crisis”, adding that many care agencies can no longer provide emergency cover.

The union warned that care homes could close, and urged the Government to concentrate on persuading hesitant workers of the benefits of having the jab “rather than resorting to threats”.