I have written to Matt Hancock urging the Government to put a winter plan in place for social care, covering five key areas:
- A guarantee that weekly, rapid testing of care staff will take place.
- Ensuring all care workers get the PPE they need.
- Urgent additional support for families and support for families to be able to safely visit care homes.
- Care homes should be supported by the NHS.
- Social care must have the additional resources it needs throughout the winter and beyond.
Coronavirus has taken an unimaginable toll on elderly and disabled people, and their families. Reports that infection rates are beginning to rise again in care homes is a matter of serious concern, and it is now vital that the Government puts in place a clear winter plan to support social care. Users, families and staff need to know that social care will be a top priority in the months ahead and we cannot afford for action to protect care homes and other services to be as slow and chaotic as it was at the start of this pandemic.
