Protective ring around care homes ring hollow when we see these numbers – Liz Kendall

Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Social Care, commenting on the latest death occurrence figures in England and Wales from the Office for National Statistics today, said:

“Ministers claims to have formed a protective ring around care homes ring hollow when we see these numbers.

“These figures are still ringing alarm bells, as deaths involving Covid-19 as a percentage of all care home deaths continued to rise this week.

“The Government is still being too slow in its response. MPs have received reports of complete confusion around care home testing, with the new portal only available for care homes for over 65s and the portal not accepting care homes who try to apply.

“Ministers must give social care the resources, support and attention it needs to stop the spread of this awful virus.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• In England, the number of deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes that were registered by 8 May was 9,495, while in Wales the number of deaths was 480. Source: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending8may2020
• CQC data shows care home deaths in England between 10 April and 15 May. Their numbers show 9,762 deaths involving COVID-19 in this time, and 1,369 of these occurred in the week up to 15 May. Source: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/numberofdeathsincarehomesnotifiedtothecarequalitycommissionengland
• The number of deaths in care homes (from all causes) for Week 19 was 4,248 (2,161 fewer than Week 18). However, deaths involving COVID-19 as a percentage of all deaths in care homes rose to 39.2% compared with 37.8% in Week 18