Care home deaths fall as UK's COVID-19 care home fatalities hit 11,600

The number of COVID-19 deaths in care homes continues to fall but more than 11,600 people have died from coronavirus in Britain's care homes since the start of the pandemic.

There were 1,940 care home deaths linked to coronavirus in the week ending 8 May in England and Wales – a fall in the number of deaths from 2,800 the week before.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports deaths in England and Wales where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

Care homes report drop in deaths in the seven days up to 15 May

Separate data (also published today on the ONS website) reveals a fall in the number of death notifications reported to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) by care homes in England.

A total of 1,919 people died of COVID-19 in England’s care homes in the week ending 15 May - a decrease from the 2,196 deaths reported the week before (week ending 8 May).

CQC notifications rely on the statement of the care home provider that COVID-19 was suspected or confirmed.

MPs told care homes had their NHS medical support withdrawn

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, which represents care homes, criticised the government’s response to the pandemic in his evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee today.

Mr Green highlighted a lack of personal protection equipment (PPE), changing guidance for care homes and said some care homes may "go under".

Martin Green told MPs "We should have been focusing on care homes from the start of this pandemic. What we saw at the start was a focus on the NHS which meant care homes often had their medical support from the NHS withdrawn.

"We also had the disruption of our supply chains for PPE.

"Despite what's being said, there were cases of people who either didn't have a COVID-19 status, or who were symptomatic, who were discharged into care homes."

He said testing in care homes three times a week would help the care sector measure and combat the virus.

Over 40% of care homes still worry about PPE

Health secretary Matt Hancock has defended the government’s response to the pandemic and has been criticised for saying that a "protective ring" had been thrown around care homes.

Fiona Carragher, director of research and influencing for Alzheimer’s Society, said: “People with dementia are not getting the ‘protective ring’ around them that the Government has promised even though dementia is the most common underlying condition for coronavirus deaths.

”Over 40 per cent of care homes we spoke to are still worried about getting enough protective equipment.”

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils want to play their full part in the national effort to overcome coronavirus, but need help and information to understand where the outbreaks are happening more widely and be able to act quickly to contain them.

"The Government needs to share this vital and up-to-date data with councils, as part of the contact tracing programme.

“It is also crucial the Government’s online PPE ordering system is fully operational as soon as possible, so that councils and care providers can directly request that critical protective equipment gets to the frontline where it is desperately needed.”

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