Plymouth owes a huge debt of gratitude to hundreds of care home staff in the city for their incredible efforts to look after the elderly and vulnerable during the Covid-19 pandemic, the lead councillor for adult social care says.
Councillor Kate Taylor, Cabinet Member for Heath and Adult Social Care, said the Prime Minister’s recent suggestion that some care homes had not implemented procedures properly would have come as a ‘kick in the teeth’ for those staff who had put themselves at risk to care for the elderly and vulnerable.
She said: “The Prime Minister’s comments about care homes were appalling and I know many of those working in care homes will feel like it is a kick in the teeth after everything they’ve been through over the last months.
“The reality is that staff in care homes have done an incredible job in extremely challenging circumstances. They have been going in to homes day after day to look after those who rely on personal care and some have even stayed on the premises for weeks on end to protect the residents and their own families. The Prime Minister should be thanking them, not seeking to pass on the blame for the Government’s own failings in providing the support care homes needed.”
There are 95 care homes in Plymouth and the City Council has been working alongside Public Health England and NHS colleagues to support those that have experienced outbreaks, ensuring they have expert advice on managing outbreaks and the resources they need, including supplies of PPE.
Councillor Taylor added: “The quick action to wrap support around some the care homes that have had cases has without doubt helped minimise the spread of COVID-19 in Plymouth and I am in awe of the professionalism and dedication everyone has shown. It has without doubt helped save lives.
“We will need to keep up this work for the foreseeable future to ensure we do not experience an outbreak in Plymouth. We all need to remain vigilant and do our bit to keep our families safe and support the NHS by following simple measures such as safe distancing, washing our hands frequently and self-isolating and getting tested if we show any symptoms.”