COVID-19: Deaths in care homes fall

The number of deaths in care homes from COVID-19 has fallen for the third week in a row, latest figures reveal.

According to data from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), 893 coronavirus deaths were reported by England’s care homes in the week ending 12 February - down from 1,386 deaths reported the week before.

The CQC figures reflect an overall downward trend in care home COVID-19 deaths in England for the last three weeks from a pandemic peak of 1,752 deaths in care homes which occurred in the week ending 22 January.

In total, there have been 8,035 coronavirus deaths of residents in care homes in England between 1 January and 12 February 2021. A further 2,804 care home residents died in hospital or elsewhere, according to the CQC.

In Scotland, figures from National Records of Scotland (NRS) reveal 68 COVID-19 deaths were reported in care homes for the week ending 7 February, down from 98 COVID-19 deaths reported 31 January.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) and Care England have said the news was positive but we are "not out of the woods yet."

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “Whilst [the] figures are certainly a move in the right direction, we have to remain on our guard.

“There is understandably an increasing call for restrictions to be relaxed but we have to be cautious and not come out of lockdown too quickly as I think we have done before.

“I think people would rather this was the last lockdown and so restrictions should be eased slowly and safely to avoid the figures going up again.”

Professor Martin Green, chief executive, of Care England said: “We are pleased to see a decline in COVID deaths in care homes however we are not out of the woods yet as sadly people living and working in care homes are still losing their lives.

"I want to pay tribute to the amazing social care staff who have worked incredibly hard.”

'Have the vaccine for your sake and for the safety of our vulnerable'

Mr Padgham also urged anyone who had not had the vaccine to have it. This message comes after the health secretary Matt Hancock announced yesterday a third of social care staff in England have not had the COVID-19 vaccine, despite them being among the groups prioritised.

In a survey of members operating 1,180 care and support services throughout the country, the National Care Forum (NCF) found a significant number of care home staff in England are yet to receive a coronavirus vaccine.

The survey, conducted 1-31 January, found 41 per cent of care home staff still had to be vaccinated, with the shortfall even larger in extra care housing and supported living services (48 per cent), home care services (55 per cent) and community-based services (60 per cent).

As well as continuing problems with accessing vaccinations for some staff, providers continue to record a minority of staff declining jabs for medical and non-medical reasons.

Mr Padgham added: “It is clear the vaccine is going to have an impact on COVID-19, and it is the main weapon in our fight out of the pandemic.” “To anyone, particularly care staff, who are hesitating I would say, have the vaccine for your own sake and for the safety of our most vulnerable.”

Prof Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, said he would be talking to clinical leaders from various ethnic groups "to work out together how we can encourage everybody to take up the vaccine".

The National Booking System is open for frontline social care staff who haven’t yet had their COVID-19 vaccinations. To book, go to: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/