Coronavirus: Stormont considers cash aid to prop up care homes

This comes after the owner of a number of Northern Ireland care homes warned that many providers are likely to be “teetering on the brink” of financial ruin due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The extra costs associated with the Covid-19 crisis – including high sickness absence rates, extra staff and extra equipment – could push many homes over the edge, the care home owner said.

The Department of Health has now confirmed to the News Letter that it is “working to identify financial support” that might be needed to prop up the sector.

That news has been welcomed by former DUP health minister Jim Wells, who said it is “essential” the private care sector remains “viable” during the pandemic.

But the People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll, who sits on the health committee at Stormont, suggested any extra money for private care homes would be better spent on “public care homes where health is the priority, not profit”.

Mr Wells said: “One thing that is absolutely clear is that there has been a very significant increase to costs for the homes as a result of this crisis. That is indisputable.

“Secondly, it is absolutely essential that we maintain a viable private sector for care homes. The reality is that right now all nursing care is in the private sector and the vast bulk of residential care is in the private sector.

“The state can no longer provide care home facilities if things start to go bad.”

He added: “Therefore it is absolutely essential to keep that sector ticking along.

“That is going to require some form of financial support as a temporary, interim measure.”

Mr Carroll, however, said the state should instead intervene to “create a publicly run care home system”.

The West Belfast MLA said: “The pressures that private care homes may face in providing for the health of their residents during this crisis is testament to the need for public care homes where health is the priority, not profit.

“I urged, before this pandemic and after various abuse and neglect scandals, that private care homes should be taken under public control.

“It is always unacceptable that facilities tasked with caring for the vulnerable should be run on a for-profit basis, whereby shareholders are prioritised and staff are underpaid – but during a health pandemic, it is unforgivable.”

He added: “At a time when the state is taking unprecedented measures to intervene in the economy to provide assistance and support, I reiterate my call for intervention to create a publicly run care home system.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “The department understands the additional pressures faced by the independent residential and nursing care home operators/providers at this time.

“The department is working to identify financial support that may be necessary to ensure stability and maintain our independent residential and nursing care home operators/providers through the period of the coronavirus pandemic.”