Sheffield care home manager 'outraged' by Prime Minister's coronavirus comments

A Sheffield care home manager is ‘outraged’ by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s recent comments that “too many care homes didn’t really follow procedures.”
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It comes after the Prime Minister said yesterday (Monday, July 6) that "too many care homes didn't really follow the procedures" in relation to the high number of Covid-19 fatalities across the nation.

Critics claim that Boris Johnson’s intended to shift the blame for the virus deaths onto care staff and care homes, for not doing their jobs properly.

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Health secretary Matt Hancock has spoken out in the House of Commons since to clarify the Prime Minister’s comments, explaining that care homes could not have followed the correct procedures because they were not known at the time.

Claire Edwards works at Tapton Edge Rest Home in Fulwood.Claire Edwards works at Tapton Edge Rest Home in Fulwood.
Claire Edwards works at Tapton Edge Rest Home in Fulwood.

Care home manager at Tapton Edge Rest Home, in Fulwood, Claire Edwards said she is ‘outraged’ by Boris Johnon’s remarks and is urging him to apologise.

The 43-year-old manager who has worked in the health and social care industry for over 20 years explained how she felt about care homes being singled out.

"I felt personally insulted, I'm outraged – regardless of how many care home deaths there might have been related to Covid or otherwise, no care home, staff or manager has ever opened a door and welcomed any infection in”, Claire commented.

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"We're in the middle of a pandemic and all care homes will have done everything they can, especially early on without any guidance whatsoever.

"It upset me, I was angry, I felt like we had been built up slightly with the recognition that we had received to then just all of a sudden be finger pointed and back down at the bottom of the pile again which is just absolutely heart wrenching.”

Tapton Edge care home went into lockdown – which ceased residents visitors from family and friends – on March 13, before the country’s official shutdown was enforced.

Claire shared how difficult it has been for health and social care staff to continue working on the front line, during the pandemic.

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“It was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my entire career, before I even informed families, I was in floods of tears.

“I've got staff members that are equally vulnerable have signed waivers, not to go against doctor's advice but they realise the importance of turning up to work to provide care for the elderly to keep them safe while taking extreme risks themselves.”

The care home manager wrote to local businesses asking for spare personal protective equipment when she was unable to source gloves, masks and aprons for staff when the crisis first hit four months ago.

Claire said it is ‘heartbreaking’ to witness the impact Boris Johnson’s comments has had on staff morale.

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"All the staff today were just very quiet, certainly keeping their spirits up around residents and then you see the glimpse of them having a quiet moment on their own somewhere and just reflecting.

"It is heartbreaking for me to see as a manager and to keep staff spirits up.

"We’re told we matter but all of a sudden we don't and then we are to blame.”

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