We clapped for nurses but politicians failed to value social care staff
The pandemic was one of the most challenging experiences across the world and in our lifetime. It affected everyone in some way and has left a lasting challenge for many.
With each new revelation in The Telegraph’s Lockdown Files, the pain of those we lost in our services is reignited in the minds and hearts of those who continue to struggle with the loss of loved ones or the lasting impact of the virus.
The reality is that our care teams worked tirelessly to support those in our care through one of the most challenging times of our careers and we can never underestimate the lasting impact.
The level of preparedness for such an event remains questionable and these things often take even the most prepared by surprise. What we would expect, at least, is a plan which would look at the safety of the most vulnerable members of our society.
From the outset there was a view that Britain was well prepared and care homes were not at risk, and the focus had to be on protecting the NHS. Social care providers were keen to support the call and we started to see rapid discharges commence.
What became very clear quite quickly was that transmissions into care services from hospitals was having an enormous impact on care home residents and their staff. Testing was available but deemed not to be necessary if there were no symptoms.
Rapid and conflicting guidance was emerging at record pace by government to care providers about how they were expected to manage outbreaks but testing remained out of reach for the sector, despite pleas from providers who could see the value of regular tests for their residents and their staff. We all felt that testing was going to be the way out of the isolation that was emerging for our residents as lockdowns appeared on the horizons.
The Telegraph’s leaked messages demonstrate that no amount of expert knowledge or advice was going to sway the path laid by politicians about the handling of the pandemic.
They had a focus to protect the NHS, with no recognition of the role of social care or its workforce. We clapped for nurses but had to remind every politician repeatedly to acknowledge social care staff and their critical role in supporting the individuals in our services. We had to fight for our PPE alongside everything else we needed.
The key here is that, at a time when we were told that they were following the science, the leaks indicate that they were not. At a time when we needed to trust the judgment of experts, they were not being listened to.
Social care is not only about care homes, it is a patchwork quilt of essential service for those who need community support to create as independent a life for them as possible. Failing to value social care and our workforce is failing the millions of people who rely on us.