Care homes' PPE stocks requisitioned for NHS says Care England

Care homes which have ordered PPE supplies of masks, gloves, aprons etc have found they are being diverted to NHS hospitals, Martin Green, chief executive of Care England has told MPs.

At a meeting of the Health and Social Care Select Committee on 26 March, Care England’s chief executive, which represents care homes told MPs: “Some of my members are having things they had ordered, sometime before this crisis, ‘taken at the borders’ for the NHS.

'Taken at the borders' for NHS

“So we have got a situation where the normal areas of supply are not getting through.

“This morning, I heard from one case where the provider got a letter from their normal supplier where they said they would not be supplying any more because it was all going to the NHS.

“Obviously the NHS has needs but so does social care".

Care providers across the country have had suppliers informing them that PPE stocks have been requisitioned and would no longer be delivered because the NHS is being prioritised.

These experiences come despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s promise during PMQs on 25 March that care workers in care homes would receive the PPE supplies they needed by 27 March.

That deadline has now passed, leaving care providers faced with the prospect of refusing new residents from hospitals.

This is contrary to Mr Johnson’s plan to transfer 15,000 people from hospitals to community settings, including care homes, by 27 March to free up hospital space to treat coronavirus patients.

Committee member, Labour MP James Murray wrote to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to ask him to come up with 'a plan for care homes’ supply of PPE'.

The MP for Ealing North said Ealing council had told him the PPE needs for 50 care homes in the London borough totalled 20,000 masks per week.

Mr Murray wrote: 'I appreciate that there are enormous pressures on every aspect of the health and social care system, and those working in other parts of the system – not least NHS workers on the frontline in hospitals – desperately need PPE too.

'However, I am concerned that without the government coordinating a plan for care homes’ supply of PPE, the situation will not improve.'

Matt Hancock promises ‘whatever is needed’

Health secretary Matt Hancock went into isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

On 28 March, the Health Secretary wrote a letter thanking social care workers and promised to do 'whatever is needed' to support them.

'We face more difficult times ahead and I know you will have been personally impacted by the measures we have had to take to reduce the spread of Covid-19', Mr Hancock wrote in his letter.

'I am acutely conscious that you, along with colleagues across the health and social care system, are on the front line caring for and supporting people in incredibly challenging circumstances. Many of the people you care for will be in groups that are at higher risk from Covid-19.'

He said the government was working 'round the clock to make sure you and your employer have the information, equipment and resources you need.

'We are committed to doing whatever is needed; that promise applies just as much to social care as it does for the NHS.'