PAGE 2 | THE CARER | JUL/AUG 2022
VIEWPOINT The long awaited Covid enquiry has now been launched, and the chair has warned she will speak out against anyone who "stands in the way" of the inquiry, saying she wants lessons to be learned before another outbreak strikes. Baroness Heather Hallett said she will treat all holders of evidence and witnesses fairly, but added that she would speak out about any Editor organisation or person “who stands in the way of the inquiry performing its task”. More than 200,000 Covid deaths have been recorded across the UK, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, and at least 20% of those recorded deaths will have occurred in care homes. At a residential nursing care trade event in October 2021 operators and frontline workers who were sitting in the audience were invited to share their experiences of working in, and managing, care homes at the very height of the storm. It was harrowing. Many were reduced to tears and struggled to finish their stories, and how I wished there was a government minister in the room that day. I can say quite confidently that there will be many within the care sector who will have a great deal to say. They will remember the early warnings from other countries about the vulnerability of care homes, none of which were heeded. Care providers must have the opportunity to recount their struggle to get protective equipment; what they saw as delayed government guidance; the swift discharge of hospital patients into care homes, some taking with them the virus , and utter sense of being forgotten, being left to ‘get on with it’ and the sector as a whole being taken for granted. The inquiry must hear their voices and I do hope that a specific dedicated allocation of time is reserved for adult social care. A date for your calendar - it is Afternoon Tea Week coming up August 8-14. A quintessentially British tradition celebrated in every care homes throughout the UK! We have a wonderful feature on pages 28-31 with some interesting statistics and fun ideas, also highlighting how important nutrition and hydration are, and also the opportunity to win a grand prize for a lucky care home! We are inviting residential and nursing care homes to send stories and photographs of their celebrations for Afternoon Tea Week and a luxury hamper will be on the way when Afternoon Tea Week ends to a lucky winner, so please do check the feature! Once again we have received some wonderful and uplifting stories from care homes around the country - awards, birthday celebrations, fundraising, sports events, singing and dancing - you name it, we are receiving them at the moment! All feelgood stories which highlight the dedication, commitment and devotion staff display in every day, improving the well-being of the residents. So well done, and please do keep them coming to editor@thecareruk.com
Peter Adams
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