"Care Homes in Pandemic: A 'Generational Slaughter' of Vulnerable Residents"

Strategic Insights -

Bereaved families and care workers testified at the Covid-19 Inquiry, sharing heartbreaking stories of the devastating impact of the pandemic on care homes. The virus swept through these institutions like wildfire, as untested residents were sent to them from hospitals, leaving frail and vulnerable individuals exposed to the virus. The inquiry has heard how care home staff were left without PPE or testing kits early in the pandemic, and how the decision to discharge untested hospital patients into care homes led to a "generational slaughter" of elderly and vulnerable residents.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Covid-19 Inquiry has heard testimony from bereaved families who were unable to see their loved ones in their final days due to partygate restrictions.
  • A top government official described the impact of the pandemic on care homes as a "generational slaughter", echoing the experience of thousands of families.
  • Between early March and early June 2020, nearly 20,000 care home residents in England and Wales died with Covid-19, representing about a third of all care home deaths during that period.
  • A 2022 High Court judgement ruled that the care homes discharge policy was unlawful, as it failed to take into account the risk to elderly and vulnerable residents of asymptomatic transmission of the virus.
  • Care home workers were left without PPE or testing kits early in the pandemic, leaving frail residents exposed to the virus.
  • A care home worker described how the virus spread "like wildfire" through the home, and how staff were devastated by the loss of residents and colleagues.
  • The inquiry will also look at why blanket do not resuscitate (DNR) orders appear to have been placed on elderly residents without their consent.
  • Office for National Statistics data indicates that 46,000 care home residents in England and Wales died with Covid-19 between March 2020 and January 2022.
  • The inquiry has heard that hospital discharges were not the main route of Covid infections into care homes.
  • A spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK has called for former health secretary Matt Hancock to "tell the truth" about the decision to discharge untested NHS patients into care homes.

Statistics:

  • 66,000 people died in care homes between March and June 2020.
  • A third of these deaths were attributed to Covid-19.
  • Between early March and early June 2020, nearly 20,000 care home residents in England and Wales died with Covid-19.
  • 46,000 care home residents in England and Wales died with Covid-19 between March 2020 and January 2022.
  • 67 out of 87 residents at a care home in Durham tested positive for Covid-19 in a short period.
  • One care home worker reported that around one-third of the staff at the time were infected with Covid-19.

Sources:

  • "Covid-19 Inquiry: Families tell of heartbreak as virus swept through care homes" (BBC News)
  • "Care home residents 'died like wildfire' as Covid swept through homes" (The Guardian)
  • "UK Covid-19 Inquiry: Matt Hancock to give evidence on Wednesday" (Sky News)
  • "Covid-19 Inquiry: Care homes discharge policy was unlawful, High Court rules" (The Telegraph)
  • " Office for National Statistics data" (ONS)
  • "Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK statement" (Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK)