Title

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Care home deaths 'an appalling loss of life'

The latest statistics show there were 6,391 deaths in care homes between 10 April and 1 May.

The latest statistics show there were 6,391 deaths in care homes between 10 April and 1 May.

In Wales, there were a further 295 deaths in the same period.

Commenting on the latest figures, chairman of the Local Government Association's wellbeing board, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, said: ‘This appalling loss of life in our care homes and communities is another stark reminder of just how much more must be done to protect our most elderly and vulnerable.

‘Every death from this virus is a tragedy, leaving behind family and friends in mourning.

Social care is the frontline in the fight against coronavirus and we need to do all we can to shield people in care homes and those receiving care in their own homes.'

He urged the government to use councils' experience with track and trace in the on-going fight against coronavirus, and said it was vital for the Government to get its personal protective equipment ordering service up and running urgently to protect frontline workers.

Announcing the latest figures, the ONS said: ‘In the most recent days, the proportion of deaths occurring in care homes have accounted for over a third of deaths.

‘Although we expect numbers of deaths to increase as more are registered, it currently appears that deaths per day are decreasing.'

Assistant general secretary of Unison, Christina McAnea, urged the Government to provide more PPE for the care sector. 

'It's not too late to save lives. The rate of infection can be reduced if care workers have proper access to protective kit,' she said. 'This would help stop the virus spreading between residents or being brought in from outside.

'But this can only happen if the government and employers ensure workers get the personal protective equipment they need. Testing also needs to be rolled out rapidly.'

The new frontline of the COVID-19 battle

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Reform UK plan to overhaul LGPS sparks backlash

By William Eichler | 01 September 2025

Reforming the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales (LGPS) could save taxpayers around £10bn, Reform UK’s deputy leader has claimed.

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Tackling the climate crisis

By Darrell Gale | 29 August 2025

Darrell Gale says that given their experience of working in partnership across multiple sectors, directors of public health are in the ideal position to tack...

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

HMOs become centre of latest asylum battle

By By Paul Marinko | 28 August 2025

Councils are being urged to tighten planning laws around Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) as the battle between government and local authorities over asy...

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Rebuilding from the brink

By Kembi Coakelin | 28 August 2025

Kembi Coakelin uses the example of a local authority issuing a section 114 notice to discuss leadership resilience during intense financial pressure.

Heather Jameson

Popular articles by Heather Jameson