CoronaviruS: NI was too slow on care home action, says Unison’s Patricia McKeown

Northern Ireland has been “behind the game all along” when it comes to preventing the spread of coronavirus deaths in care homes, a union boss has said.

Unison regional secretary Patricia McKeown, speaking after the publication of figures by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency showing more people are now dying in care homes than in hospitals due to coronavirus, pointed to problems in securing protective equipment for staff and widespread testing for both staff and residents.

“Here in Northern Ireland we have been behind the game all along,” she told the News Letter.

“There was quite a strong and swift movement on getting the hospital side of this, the acute side of this, into some kind of shape. No attention was paid to the residential side of it.

“Now we know the real focus should be there (on care homes). It’s not moving quickly enough.

“This was always going to be a vulnerable group in terms of any kind of epidemic, whether it be the annual flu or whatever.

“You did not have to be anyone with real expertise in this to see the news from other countries and know that care homes and nursing homes were an absolute hub for this virus.”

She continued: “We wrote to the Chief Medical Officer in March, calling for him to put special attention on care homes.

“It took a great deal more pressure being exercised by us (Unison) and, obviously, trying through formal channels to get some much more rapid movement on the big issues of testing, contact tracing and PPE (personal protective equipemt such as masks, aprons and gloves).

The Department of Health said.

“Everyone across the HSC has been working hard to do their best to protect our care homes. The Department, Board, PHA, RQIA and Trusts have all been heavily involved in this vital work.

“As a system, we have been leading the way in a number of areas.

“For instance, on testing in care homes we rolled out comprehensive testing of all staff and residents in homes with an outbreak before other parts of the UK. This decision was made before the agreement with unions on terms and conditions for staff moving across to work in care homes.

“We also have the most comprehensive programme of testing for new residents going into care homes across the UK.”

The statement continued: “Large quantities of PPE have been flowing to the independent sector from Trusts for a number of weeks now — around 2.5 million items per week. All provided for free.

“Significant numbers of trust staff are also working in care homes, reflecting the strong partnership we have and we are constantly hearing positive feedback from care homes about the support they are being provided.”

The statement said: “We are also leading the way in testing new ways of working — supporting living in arrangements in homes where it is safe to do so.

“We will continue to consider every possible measure to ensure care home staff and residents are safe.

“Earlier this week, a £6.5m package of additional was announced support for the care home sector.

“It has to be acknowledged that Covid-19 has been a serious threat to care homes across Europe, including in countries that have adopted very different policy responses to the virus.”

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