Covid-19 is taking a 'grim toll' on care home residents: The King's Fund responds to ONS figures on deaths within the care sector in England and Wales

Responding to new ONS figures on deaths within the care sector in England and Wales, Sally Warren, Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, said:

‘The data indicates the grim toll the pandemic has taken on people living in care homes, revealing a 46 per cent increase in the total number of deaths among care home residents in England and Wales compared to the same period last year.

‘While we can’t yet fully understand all the factors at play, this is yet another worrying finding that should keep our attention firmly on the crisis in our care homes. Although there is no comparable data, we must also understand what is happening with the people who are in need of social care support in their own homes.

‘We also know that the virus has exposed weaknesses in a social care system that has been underfunded and overlooked for too long. Before the pandemic, care providers were struggling to recruit staff and many people’s needs were already going unmet.

‘Care home and domiciliary care providers urgently need access to testing and PPE for staff, and funding to cover the increased costs that threaten some of their futures. Beyond this, it is essential to get on with long-delayed reform and for the Prime Minister to come good on his promise to fix social care “once and for all”.’