Care homes feel 'slap in the face' as music festivals get government-backed Covid insurance

Care homes are feeling a ‘slap in the face' from the government’s decision to provide an insurance indemnity for music festivals, while care homes fear closure as they struggle to get insurance protection against Covid-19 claims.

Public liability insurance is a legal requirement for care home registration but care providers have seen the cost treble in some cases and it does not cover them for Covid claims which could force them to shut down.

The UK government recently announced a £750m scheme to protect music festivals and live events if they have to cancel because of Covid.

However, care homes' calls for the government to offer them an insurance indemnity, similar to the one given to the NHS, have been ignored.

’Slap in the face’ for care homes

Mary Wimbury, chief executive of Care Forum Wales, which represents care homes, said those in the sector were very "let down" because care they offer to people is treated as less important than the music and live events industry.

"If a care home was to be sued, they might not be covered at all and potentially would have to close.

“The care sector has kept caring for really vulnerable people and it's had to do that under really difficult conditions and it does feel like a slap in the face that the UK government has given an indemnity to the music industry but not to the care sector."