Ministers need to take urgent action to guarantee weekly testing with swift results to ensure care homes are properly prepared and keep all elderly and disabled people safe. You can read the full story in the Daily Mail.
Author: Susie Burpee
Liz takes action to support Leicester’s unpaid carers
During the pandemic, the number of unpaid carers has roughly doubled, with 4.5 million more people taking on unpaid caring responsibilities, bringing the total to at least 9 million. It’s thought that this number may be far higher, as so many people don’t recognise that the essential support they’re giving […]
Liz chairs Feeding Leicester board
I chaired a meeting of the Feeding Leicester board this morning. We discussed the impact that coronavirus has had on food poverty, and how we can learn lessons from the pandemic. We also heard about how the Holiday Food Programme has helped families in Leicester. Feeding Leicester […]
Liz call for proper sick pay for social care staff
Today I am calling for a winter plan for social care which ensures that care staff can afford to self isolate and reduces the reliance on agency staff, because there is clear evidence that these things are absolutely crucial in keeping infection rates down. I am also calling on […]
Liz’s latest Leicester Mercury column
This month’s column focuses on the fantastic work carried out by food banks in Leicester. I visited Christ the King Food Bank and Woodgate Community Food on National Food Bank Day, and spoke to them about the issues they’ve seen during lockdown. The number of people claiming Universal Credit […]
Fresh strategy needed to protect care home residents
You can read coverage of Labour’s winter plan for social care, which Liz wrote to Matt Hancock about on Monday 14 September, as follows: Leicester Mercury – Calls for winter plans to protect care homes amid signs of rising coronavirus cases The Times – Care home bosses claim government is failing on […]
Liz calls for a winter plan for social care
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 […]
Liz discusses social care with Labour councillors
Today I met with the LGA Labour Group about the challenges facing social care. Labour councillors provide a strong local voice standing up for residents, and deliver innovative solutions in the face of Tory cuts. As we move into the winter, local government will play a leading role in […]
Liz discusses manufacturing with Midlands MPs and trade unions
Over the last few months, trade unions and Labour MPs have been working hard to protect people’s livelihoods. Today, I met with Labour MPs and trade unionists across the Midlands to talk about the vital role manufacturing plays in our region and in our country. We were also joined by Ed […]
Matt Hancock’s care home policy is “not good enough”
I spoke to LBC’s Shelagh Fogarty this afternoon about opening up care homes to family visits. We need to get family visits back up and running to ensure that care home residents are not just kept alive, but are given something to live for. Read more on LBC’s […]
Urgent action needed to open up care homes to family visits
In June I called on Ministers to ensure families can visit their loved ones in care homes again but progress has been far too slow. Care home residents need something to live for – not just to be kept alive. With winter and the flu season fast approaching the government […]
Liz visits food banks in Leicester West
Today I met with volunteers from Christ the King Foodbank and Woodgate Community Food. The work that groups like these are doing to end hunger in Leicester is inspiring, and as chair of Feeding Leicester I am proud to support them. Thank you to all volunteers at both centres who […]