I spoke to LBC about the Data Analysis Bureau’s latest study, which suggests that a fifth of care home residents have not been tested for Covid-19 since May. We need to sort the testing system for our care homes, for our residents and for staff. Of all the places you would […]
Social Care
Liz calls for family members to be treated as key workers
I spoke to Holly and Phil on This Morning last week about the urgent need for family visits to resume in care homes. Labour are calling for family visitors to be treated as ‘key workers’, with access to regular testing and PPE, to recognise the role family members have […]
Liz calls for testing for family visitors to care homes
Today I asked the Minister for Care to treat families with relatives in care homes as ‘key workers’ with regular testing, and to lift the blanket ban on care home visits in local lockdown areas. Visits from loved ones are essential to the health of care home residents. That’s […]
Labour demand 24hr test results for care workers
Care homes have reported waiting up to three weeks for test results. This paints a deeply worrying picture of the spread of coronavirus in care homes, and Ministers need to get on top of these problems. We need a guarantee that all care homes will receive their test results in […]
Care homes facing closure crisis as empty beds double amid Covid pandemic
I spoke to ITV News about the dramatic rise in empty beds in care homes. The Prime Minister promised to fix the crisis in social care over a year ago, and yet plans for long-term Care reform are nowhere to be seen. The Government must bring forward these reform as […]
Care home coronavirus outbreaks cast doubt on official PHE data
The UK’s largest care home provider has reported Covid-19 outbreaks in 70 of its facilities. We need accurate information about infection rates in care homes, in order to understand the full scale of this pandemic. Read my response and more on the story in The Guardian.
Unpaid carers spending 92 million hours looking after relatives with dementia
Liz has responded to a new report from Alzheimer’s Society. The report shows that families have been forced to increase their caring responsibilities a lot since March. You can read the article online, and read the Alzheimer’s Society report on their website.
Care homes waiting up to 15 days for test results
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.
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 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 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 […]