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Coronavirus: How big is the problem in care homes? | Coronavirus: How big is the problem in care homes? |
(about 20 hours later) | |
The scale of coronavirus deaths in the UK's care homes is becoming more apparent as the crisis continues. | The scale of coronavirus deaths in the UK's care homes is becoming more apparent as the crisis continues. |
According to the latest available figures, care homes account for nearly a sixth of Covid-19 deaths in England and Wales. | According to the latest available figures, care homes account for nearly a sixth of Covid-19 deaths in England and Wales. |
How many deaths have there been in care homes? | How many deaths have there been in care homes? |
This is a difficult figure to calculate. | This is a difficult figure to calculate. |
There are more than 15,000 care homes in England, compared with about 200 hospital trusts. | |
There is a two-week time lag in the data collected for official statistics. The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are for the week ending 17 April. At that point, there had been 3,096 Covid-19-related deaths in care homes in England and Wales. | There is a two-week time lag in the data collected for official statistics. The most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are for the week ending 17 April. At that point, there had been 3,096 Covid-19-related deaths in care homes in England and Wales. |
This means that about 16% of all Covid-19 deaths to that point had occurred in care homes - a high proportion, considering they house less than 1% of the country's population. | This means that about 16% of all Covid-19 deaths to that point had occurred in care homes - a high proportion, considering they house less than 1% of the country's population. |
On 29 April the government began releasing daily figures for deaths in the community alongside the number of hospital deaths. | |
This resulted in the official UK death toll jumping by almost 4,000 to 26,097 as the backlog of deaths outside hospitals was added on. | |
These new daily additions show deaths where it was confirmed the patient had coronavirus. | |
England's care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), along with the ONS, is producing data which include suspected, as well as confirmed, deaths. | |
The CQC already has to be notified when there is a death in a care home. It is also now asking care providers to give daily updates on deaths and the number of confirmed and suspected coronavirus cases. | The CQC already has to be notified when there is a death in a care home. It is also now asking care providers to give daily updates on deaths and the number of confirmed and suspected coronavirus cases. |
Between 10 and 25 April, their findings show that 4,343 individuals died in care homes from coronavirus. | Between 10 and 25 April, their findings show that 4,343 individuals died in care homes from coronavirus. |
In Scotland, 40% of the 2,272 deaths recorded up to 26 April were in care homes. | |
Northern Ireland's statistics body doesn't currently provide this breakdown. | Northern Ireland's statistics body doesn't currently provide this breakdown. |
How many people live in care homes? | How many people live in care homes? |
Most care homes in the UK are privately run, and there is no official data on the exact number of residents. | Most care homes in the UK are privately run, and there is no official data on the exact number of residents. |
The CQC says there are 15,517 residential and nursing homes providing support for older and disabled people in England, with an estimated 457,361 beds available. | The CQC says there are 15,517 residential and nursing homes providing support for older and disabled people in England, with an estimated 457,361 beds available. |
Occupancy rates seem to be about 90% which would suggest there are about 411,000 people living in care homes in England and Wales. | Occupancy rates seem to be about 90% which would suggest there are about 411,000 people living in care homes in England and Wales. |
At the 2011 census, 60% of the elderly care home population were 85 or older - but this is now likely to be higher, given the ageing population. | At the 2011 census, 60% of the elderly care home population were 85 or older - but this is now likely to be higher, given the ageing population. |
How many people receive care in their own homes? | How many people receive care in their own homes? |
Each week in the UK, it is estimated that 540,000 people receive support in their own home. That adds up to a million home-care visits happening each day. | Each week in the UK, it is estimated that 540,000 people receive support in their own home. That adds up to a million home-care visits happening each day. |
What's provided on these visits can range from help going to the toilet, to preparing a meal or support with medication. | What's provided on these visits can range from help going to the toilet, to preparing a meal or support with medication. |
Care workers can at times see up to 20 clients during a day. This has raised concerns about the danger of spreading coronavirus if the workers do not have enough personal protective equipment (PPE). | Care workers can at times see up to 20 clients during a day. This has raised concerns about the danger of spreading coronavirus if the workers do not have enough personal protective equipment (PPE). |
How much PPE do social care staff have? | How much PPE do social care staff have? |
The government's advice to care homes on personal protective equipment (PPE) is almost identical to that given to hospital workers - they should have single-use disposable gloves, aprons and face masks. | The government's advice to care homes on personal protective equipment (PPE) is almost identical to that given to hospital workers - they should have single-use disposable gloves, aprons and face masks. |
Care providers have been saying for some weeks that it is difficult to get enough of these items to keep their staff and clients safe. | Care providers have been saying for some weeks that it is difficult to get enough of these items to keep their staff and clients safe. |
On 27 April, the government said 16 social care staff had died from coronavirus. | On 27 April, the government said 16 social care staff had died from coronavirus. |
As of 26 April, more than one billion pieces of PPE have been delivered to health and care settings across the UK, according to the government. | As of 26 April, more than one billion pieces of PPE have been delivered to health and care settings across the UK, according to the government. |
This includes releasing 36.3 million items of PPE to designated wholesalers for onward sale to social care providers. | This includes releasing 36.3 million items of PPE to designated wholesalers for onward sale to social care providers. |
The government has also released £3.6bn of funding to local authorities - which are in charge of providing social care - with instructions that most of this should reach the adult social-care sector. | The government has also released £3.6bn of funding to local authorities - which are in charge of providing social care - with instructions that most of this should reach the adult social-care sector. |
However, the Local Government Association has warned that - as traditional means of raising money such as business rates and parking charges drop - this might not be enough to cover additional costs needed to tackle the virus. | However, the Local Government Association has warned that - as traditional means of raising money such as business rates and parking charges drop - this might not be enough to cover additional costs needed to tackle the virus. |
How many tests are being carried out in care homes? | How many tests are being carried out in care homes? |
There is no current breakdown, but the government has now announced that as laboratory capacity increases, all care home residents who develop symptoms will be tested. | There is no current breakdown, but the government has now announced that as laboratory capacity increases, all care home residents who develop symptoms will be tested. |
Patients returning to care homes from hospitals will also be tested for Covid-19, even if they have no symptoms. | Patients returning to care homes from hospitals will also be tested for Covid-19, even if they have no symptoms. |
Are staff being tested? | Are staff being tested? |
Testing was made available to care staff just before Easter. | Testing was made available to care staff just before Easter. |
The government has said that as capacity increases, it will roll this out so that every care worker who needs a test can get one. | The government has said that as capacity increases, it will roll this out so that every care worker who needs a test can get one. |
However, problems apparently remain. According to BBC research, 159 of 210 care providers contacted said none of their workers had had a test as of 22 April. | However, problems apparently remain. According to BBC research, 159 of 210 care providers contacted said none of their workers had had a test as of 22 April. |
The care sector has always struggled to recruit enough staff because of its reputation for low pay and a lack of recognition - it's estimated that there are currently 122,000 full-time equivalent vacancies in England. | The care sector has always struggled to recruit enough staff because of its reputation for low pay and a lack of recognition - it's estimated that there are currently 122,000 full-time equivalent vacancies in England. |
Those problems have been made more acute with staff having to self-isolate if they or a member of their family have shown potential symptoms. | Those problems have been made more acute with staff having to self-isolate if they or a member of their family have shown potential symptoms. |
Some care providers have reported having at least a quarter of their staff off as a result. | Some care providers have reported having at least a quarter of their staff off as a result. |
The government says it aims to recruit 20,000 extra social care staff over the next three months. | The government says it aims to recruit 20,000 extra social care staff over the next three months. |