The UK government is to spend an extra £600m on infection control in care and nursing homes to help the fight against Covid-19.
During Prime Minister’s Question Time, Boris Johnson said there is “much more to do” in containing the virus in care homes.
The announcement followed the latest data from the Office of National Statistics, which suggest at least 20,000 people have died in care homes since the outbreak.
Representative body Independent Care Group (ICG) gave a cautious welcome to the pledge of extra cash for infection control by the Prime Minister.
“Whilst we welcome this promised money we have to take on trust that this is new money and not part of the £3.2bn already given to local authorities to help against coronavirus,” said IGC chairman Mike Padgham.
“Our main fear is that this will not be enough. The £3.2bn already pledged has been slow and patchy in reaching the front line to support care providers who are struggling. Local authorities say they need much more funding to cope,” he added.
Padgham continued: “Providers are seeing falling incomes and rapidly rising costs due to Covid-19 and they need urgent help on the front line now.”
