Boris Johnson's care home comments criticised as 'neither accurate nor welcome'

6 July 2020, 21:02

PM's comments that 'too many' care homes didn't follow coronavirus procedures 'neither accurate nor welcome'

Care providers have rejected comments from the Prime Minister that "too many" care homes did not properly follow procedures during the coronavirus pandemic, calling them "neither accurate nor welcome".

Boris Johnson said lessons are being learned after appearing to cast some blame on care homes as they responded to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Asked what he made of Sir Simon Stevens' wish to see plans to adequately fund the adult social care sector within a year, he said: "One of the things the crisis has shown is we need to think about how we organise our social care package better and how we make sure we look after people better who are in social care.

"We discovered too many care homes didn't really follow the procedures in the way that they could have but we're learning lessons the whole time.

"Most important is to fund them properly... but we will also be looking at ways to make sure the care sector long term is properly organised and supported."

But care providers said the basis for the PM's comments was unclear, while the National Care Forum (NCF) urged him to start "turning the dial up on reform and down on blame".

Nick Ferrari asks Business Secretary Alok Sharma if he backs PM on care homes claim

Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari on Tuesday morning, Business Secretary Alok Sharma defended the prime minister's comments and dismissed the idea he was shifting the blame on to care homes.

He said: "Throughout this whole process he's been incredibly supportive of the NHS and incredibly supportive of care workers.

"The point the prime minister was making is that nobody knew what those correct procedures were because quite frankly at the time we didn't know the extent of what the asymptomatic transmission was.

"Nobody knew this, but what we've made sure is that we put in place detailed guidance, we provided extra funding for care homes, we ensured that people were being tested in care homes, and we provided PPE.

"As far as I'm concerned, the prime minister has been incredibly supportive of the sector right from the start of this pandemic."

Vic Rayner, executive director of the NCF, which represents 120 of the UK's social care charities, welcomed the PM's recognition of the need for proper funding.

She added: "However, Mr Johnson's comments in relation to care homes' following of procedures are neither accurate nor welcome.

"Government guidance has come to the sector in stops and starts - with organisations grappling with over 100 pieces of additional guidance in the same number of days, much of which was not accompanied by an understanding of the operational implications of operating care services.

"Care providers have moved to adopt these new procedures consistently, at pace and with integrity."

She added that he must start "turning the dial up on reform and down on blame".

A No 10 spokesperson said: "Throughout this crisis, care homes have done a brilliant job under very difficult circumstances.

"The prime minister was pointing out that nobody knew what the correct procedures were because the extent of asymptomatic transmission was not known at the time."

The Independent Care Group (ICG) said the vast majority of providers had "done their absolute best in the face of slow and conflicting advice".

ICG chairman Mike Padgham said: "We should not be getting into the blame game and it is wrong to criticise care and nursing homes at this time.

"It is worth remembering that in February the Government agency Public Health England told homes it was 'very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home will become infected' and that homes didn't need to do anything differently.

"It was many weeks later, after most homes had already put themselves into lockdown, that the advice changed."

Mr Padgham said it was only when the real death toll in care homes became apparent that the Government accepted social care was as much on the front line as hospitals.

He added: "Care providers may not have got everything perfect but neither has the Government.

"For far too much of this pandemic, providers were operating in the dark over what they ought to do and with one arm behind their backs in terms of the support they were given. In those circumstances, they have worked miracles."

Chief executive of the charitable care provider MHA, Sam Monaghan, said that Mr Johnson was "entirely right" that social care needs long-term support, adding: "It is unclear what the evidence is for his claim that 'too many care homes didn't follow procedures in the right way'.

"But the three things he has identified that the sector needs going forwards - support, organisation and funding - are the three specific things that have been lacking from Government during the course of the pandemic.

"What is clear is that a public inquiry needs to be expedited and the PM's comments imply that he feels the same."

Unison assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: "The underfunding of social care shouldn't be a surprise to the PM."

She added: "Care was exposed and vulnerable from the off. Little or no protective kit, no testing and an absence of full sick pay meant the virus spread easily, with catastrophic consequences.

"There's many lessons to be learned. Governments have promised reform but nothing's happened. Fundamental change must now happen - and quickly."

Labour also criticised Mr Johnson's remarks. Shadow social care minister Liz Kendall said: "There have been 30,000 excess deaths in care homes and at least 20,000 of these caused by Covid-19.

"25,000 elderly people were discharged from hospitals to care homes without any tests whatsoever and frontline care workers were left without vital PPE.

"Staff who have gone the extra mile to care for elderly people, and experienced things the rest of us can only imagine, will be appalled to hear the Prime Minister's comments.

"Boris Johnson should be taking responsibility for his actions and fixing the crisis in social care, not blaming care homes for this Government's mistakes."