Although we haven’t had the Covid inquiry report on the pandemic’s impact on adult social care yet, I don’t think anyone would say they need a crystal ball to predict the likely verdict.
Daily stories of mounting sickness and worse, to the hard-hitting Channel 4 drama Help starring Jody Comer and Stephen Graham, meant the unimaginable pressure and horrifying toll the infection and official response to it put on care home residents, staff, families and loved ones and leaders was crystal clear even for those outside the sector – as I was at the time.
The reason this recent collective trauma is back on the agenda this week, before the Inquiry module six report is released, is because the government has published its Pandemic strategy, including a pledge to ‘co-develop’ an adult social care ‘action plan’ by next year (see story below).
Published to little fanfare earlier this week, the Department for Health and Social Care said the action plan would look to fix issues that undermined the sector’s response in 2020, starting with ensuring funding and equipment can reach the provider frontline, and staff are prioritised for protection and immunisation.
The announcement was light on detail and I’m not aware that there’s any specific work going on yet with the sector to get this plan off the ground. So, it would appear to be a golden opportunity for those on the frontline and their representatives in membership organisations and unions to set out exactly what’s needed come the next pandemic.
The Inquiry said in January that it expects to publish its care impact report ‘towards the end of the year.’ However, people in the care sector know what happened (and their stories are documented by the Inquiry here) – and Ministers’ pledge to create a plan -if truly taken seriously - would appear to be the best immediate chance to push for real change backed by funding as well as intent.
We at TCHE want to play our part helping to make sure all those who should have a role in the plan’s co-production have a voice. We see you, we appreciate you, and we want to help shine a light on what you need to provide the best care possible for our older and vulnerable citizens. Please get in touch marylouiseclews@stepcomms.com
Thank you.
