This I agree with Goldy. My mother in law runs/ran a home care service from her household. Every wednesday and thursday, 3 to 4 elderley to give families that rest bite. Many had viewed the private care system and some were frankly disgusting. Just another fat cat owner taking the cream. Its surely up to the owners to provide everything that comes with the extortionate rates that they charge. The thing that has screwed care homes is the release of the elderley from hospitals prior and during this pandemic. None were tested as my sister in law visits these on a daily basis. 3 have passed away in the last fortnight.
I was listening to the Euro correspondent yesterday and he was saying that every country has had its problems. France was moaning to Macron for lack of PPE. I think we may need to accept that even the best prepared can have big problems in a major crisis?
Others have already replied to this. But I'll just add that my initial point was the overall accountability for supply and distribution during a national emergency (like a pandemic) must always fall on the government because it's not just one department or utility or public service that needs it. There was also a government exercise done 4 years ago which flagged up significant shortcomings in the country's ability to deal with a pandemic. A shortfall in PPE was one of the areas identified. I'm sure that shortfall wasn't limited to the NHS.
The government should stockpile for the NHS outside a pandemic. That's prudent, but not private care homes
So you think that, without any one warning them or advising them to stock up, care homes should have stockpiled PPE beyond their normal day to day needs simply because they belong to the private sector? Even though 50% of their residents are paid for by the state (via local authorities)? Wow. Just nipping out to stock up essential supplies for the meteor strike no one is predicting.
Today feels like one of the lowest point since the lockdown. The seemingly terrible decision to move elderly from hospitals to care homes without testing would have been unquestionably foolish if true. The subsequent missing deaths not being reported has shown how much worse our situation is. The curve is flawed and we are seeing deaths worse than we were being told. Meanwhile we are hearing of shops considering open. Greggs re-opening! People thinking our country is starting to open up. Forget it. Go and hoard toilet rolls again and lockdown. This is far from over. Desperately sad.
That decision to discharge COVID19 positive patients from hospital to care homes is true and was reiterated by Hancock at the daily briefing on 15 April (source Daily Telegraph). “Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said hospital patients who tested positive for Covid-19 would continue to be discharged into care homes despite growing evidence that the policy is fuelling outbreaks and deaths.” You are absolutely right SW, things looking very bad indeed.
There were 2 new cases announced on Wednesday - 1 confirmed and 1 probable. * The total number of cases is 1474. * No further deaths on Wednesday; the total number of deaths remains at 19. * 1249 cases have now recovered. * There are 6 people currently in hospital. * The country will be in Alert Level 3 for two weeks, before being reviewed by Cabinet on May 11
I think you might find that was an NHS conducted exercise, if so again that proves the NHS knew they’d have a lack of PPE and in the intervening 4 years actually did sod all to remedy it, but apparently it’s still the Government’s fault, how so ?
[ Code-named Exercise Cygnus, it took place in October 2016 and involved all major government departments, the NHS and local authorities across Britain.
It’s incredible logic. What are the government responsible for if not our response to a ****ing pandemic killing tens of thousands across the country?
Guardian therefore best ignored but I’ve enjoyed these weekly articles and I always learn something new. The Spanish Flu wasn’t Spanish at all. The Spanish press just dared to report the grim facts while the US and UK press couldn’t due to the impact it would have on morale. Makes you think.
