Review ordered into coronavirus response in care homes

Described as a ‘rapid learning initiative’, a group led by Deputy Chief Nursing Officer Linda Kelly will look at what measures had the “most positive impact” in the fight against the virus.

The minister announced the review after appearing to rule out ordering a full public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic in care homes.

Mr Swann said: “In the past number of months we have seen a wide range of measures introduced by care homes to protect their residents and new learning continues to be identified and applied. It’s important that we now work together to identify those measures that had the most positive impact. This will help us understand what our health and social care system needs to do ahead of any future wave.”

He continued: “For those of you who have been on the frontline, your experiences are critical in informing the learning. For residents and your families, it’s important that we capture and learn from your perspectives.

“I must stress that the Rapid Learning Initiative is not a research project, an investigation or an inquiry. There will be a time to consider such processes. This is a collaboration between statutory bodies, the care home sector and the nursing profession to identify learnings that can be taken forward in the short term.”

There have been calls from families and from organisations including the trade union Unison and Amnesty International for such an inquiry to take place.

Care home campaigner Julieann McNally, who leads the group Care Home Advice and Support NI (CHASNI), said families are still “holding out hope” than an inquiry will take place.

“We still think there needs to be an inquiry,” she said. “This review is very different from a public inquiry. This country has a very long-standing fascination with ordering reviews – review after review. There needs to be a much wider and more far-reaching piece of work.

“We would still hold out hope of that because we haven’t heard a definitive no to the calls for a public inquiry.”

Earlier this week, Mr Swann said: “I am under no illision that there will be local, national and international inquiries into this.” Asked whether he would be prepared to order an inquiry, Mr Swann added: “I honestly believe it will be a wider inquiry than just health. Solely to tie down an inquiry to the health response would be unfair.”

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