UK care home staff 'at breaking point' as cases rise

Britain’s care homes are in danger of being overwhelmed by the coronavirus, with staff warning they are at “breaking point” and the country’s biggest charitable provider revealing confirmed or suspected cases in more than half of its facilities. MHA, which runs more than 220 facilities, said 750 of its staff – more than one in ten – are unable to work, and that confirmed deaths from the disease are rising. _____________________________________________________________ More on this story: ______________________________________________________________ On 25 March, the prime minister promised sufficient PPE would arrive with care workers by the end of last week. But MHA said on Tuesday that its staff are regularly using up their week’s supply of face masks from the government in a single day, and nine of its homes have “dangerously low” amounts of kit. A survey of 10 care homes in the Barking, east London, constituency of Labour MP Margaret Hodge on Monday also found that eight were struggling with shortages, particularly of goggles. Unison leader Dave Prentis told Johnson in a letter that public workers lacking PPE “feel like they’ve been forgotten – their safety a mere afterthought, despite the critical work they do”. Workers have described despair and rising anxiety at seeing staff and residents mix with people confirmed to have Covid-19, and feeling as if they were being treated as “cannon fodder”. Little has been known about the death toll of coronavirus in care settings, because daily figures released by Public Health England only relate to NHS hospital fatalities. “The adult social care sector must not be treated as the poor relation of the NHS,” said Sam Monaghan, chief executive of MHA, which has seen nine confirmed deaths from coronavirus in its homes, with many more suspected. We are anxious that we may see an increase in staff expressing concern about coming into workwithout being supplied with adequate equipment.” A care assistant in a 20-person care home – not operated by MHA – in south Wales told the Guardian that staff had been frightened after doctors asked each resident if they would prefer to stay in the home if they contract Covid-19, and all said they wanted to stay. This helps kill viruses that may be on the hands.  Cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue when coughing and/or sneezing. In case you develop fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your healthcare provider.  Avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals when visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of novel coronavirus. “The government must act faster to protect both the most vulnerable people in our communities and care home staff,” she said.

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