Calls For Daily Publication Of Care Home And Community Deaths Heeded By Government

Responding to the Government’s daily press briefing, Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said:

“We have consistently called on the Government to recognise that care homes and community care are integral to our health and care system. We are pleased that the Government has heeded our calls on this and will publish figures on the people who have died with coronavirus outside of hospitals on a daily basis. This is so that we have a full picture of the impact of the pandemic and can ensure that no one feels their loved ones are being treated like a second-class citizen.

“Whilst we welcome the Government’s announcement that it will continue to expand drive-through testing centres, mobile testing sites and the number of home-testing kits available to households, our members continue to identify that key health and care workers face barriers to accessing testing themselves. It is so important that the Government continues to engage with health leaders on agreeing suitable and easily accessible sites for NHS and social care workers to get tested.”