Care England, the largest representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has welcomed the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care’s announcement concerning the roll out of testing for corona virus to all care home residents and social care staff with COVID-19 symptoms.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:
“During this dreadful pandemic it is hard to find things to be positive about, but today’s announcement from DHSC that testing will be available for all social care staff and residents that need it is indeed welcome. Care homes will be in a much better position to face this virus head on once they have been able to test both their staff, residents and new residents who have been discharged from hospital into their care homes”.
Care England is working tirelessly to ensure that the needs of the adult social care sector, the second front line, are heard at this time of crisis and have been focusing exclusively on the need for sufficient PPE and testing. We sincerely hope that the narrative will become a practical reality and whilst timing is of course of the essence, a more thorough testing regime will enable the social care sector to support its colleagues in the NHS as they strive to combat corona virus.
Martin Green continues:
“Testing and PPE go hand in hand and are at the forefront of all care providers’ minds. It is heartening to know that the Government is listening to the sector. I’m humbled to see the amazing work that the social care workers are doing round the clock and would urge anyone who thinks that a career in social care is unskilled or not a key worker to think again”.
