Coronavirus: ‘It’s not rocket science, test everyone in care homes’, says NI old folks’ commissioner

The commissioner, Eddie Lynch, has now issued a direct challenge for government to introduce universal testing in every single care home in Northern Ireland.

His call comes as it is revealed by the World Health Organisation that up to half of all coronavirus deaths in Europe have taken place in care homes.

The organisation’s European director, Dr Hans Kluge, urged governments to prioritise testing in care homes.

Mr Lynch, who has previously called for testing to be “ramped up” in Northern Ireland care homes, said: “You know, it’s not rocket science. If an outbreak happens in a home we have many older people, many of the most vulnerable, with underlying conditions, living together under one roof.

“It is a real challenge for the providers to provide the support and to isolate those people in a way that protects everyone else.”

Mr Lynch made those comments during an interview with BBC Radio Ulster.

In a statement issued to the News Letter, the commissioner said: “For many weeks now I have been calling for stronger and swifter action from authorities to protect some of the most vulnerable people in society, those living in care homes.

“Whilst I recognise that progress has been made to increase testing in care homes, I believe that there needs to be a step change in who should be getting tested.

“In recent times, government has announced that only those residents showing symptoms are being tested, as well as any new residents being moved from a hospital to a care home.

“However, whilst patients leaving hospital are being tested, the results are not always known before they are discharged into nursing homes.

“I believe that we need to go much further than this and I call on the authorities to move to testing all care home residents and all the staff who are doing the vital, caring and nursing jobs in the most challenging of circumstances.”

Universal testing in care homes is already being carried out in other jurisdictions.

In the Republic of Ireland, health authorities began testing all residents and staff in long-term care homes last week.

Mr Lynch added: “The recent publication of coronavirus death statistics has highlighted just how vulnerable older people are, with almost 70% of deaths in Northern Ireland being in the 75 and over age range.”

NO COMMITMENT FROM HEALTH AUTHORITIES

Health authorities have declined to say whether they will act on the Mr Lynch’s call for universal testing in care homes.

The News Letter asked both the Department of Health at Stormont and the Public Health Agency whether a move to such a testing regime is under consideration.

The Public Health Agency referred to a statement made by its director of public health, Professor Hugo van Woerden, on Wednesday. He said residents and staff who show symptoms are being tested at present, but said “work continues on how this can be extended further.”

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