Coronavirus: Union calls on NHS to ‘take control’ of care homes

Currently, the overwhelming majority of Northern Ireland’s 484 registered care homes are in the private sector, with health trusts operating only a small number of residential homes.

The largest trade union in the Northern Ireland health service, Unison, has highlighted what it described as the “low pay conditions” for many frontline staff in private care homes and suggested the state should “step back in” if private employers can’t resolve the problems.

Health Minister Robin Swann has acknowledged that care homes have now become the “frontline” in the fight against the virus here, after the most recent figures available showed that more people are now dying in care homes than in hospitals due to coronavirus.

The most recent figures published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, showed that in the week ending April 24 58% of coronavirus deaths occurred in care homes compared to 37% for hospitals.

New figures are expected to be published tomorrow.

On Tuesday, Mr Swann said that as hospital admissions fell the “frontline fight” had moved to care homes.

Unison said the frontline staff in that fight are being “exploited”.

The union’s regional secretary Patricia McKeown said: “For several years Unison has been highlighting the low pay and poor conditions endured by many workers in the private care sector.

“We have given evidence to a multitude of reviews. As a result the exploitation of this workforce has been recognised but no action has been taken to remedy it.”

She continued: “The pandemic has brought these issues into the public arena in a dramatic way. It is scandalous that workers in care homes right at the frontline of Covid-19 have been left to exist on statutory sick pay when they become ill as a result of the risks they are taking to protect the residents they care so much about.

“This has to change. The pay, conditions and safety of all workers in this sector need urgently reviewed. If employers can’t or won’t do the right thing then it is time for the health service to step back in and take control.”

Ms McKeown urged employers to “sit down collectively” with health authorities and unions.

The Department of Health at Stormont has said health authorities have been “working hard to do their best to protect our care homes” following criticism.

In a joint statement, Northern Ireland’s Older People’s Commissioner Eddie Lynch and chief Human Rights Commissioner Les Allamby said officials “should have created a ring of steel to protect care homes”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “We will continue to consider every possible measure to ensure care home staff and residents are safe.”