03Jan 2022 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Number of care homes falls by 1,700 since 2015

Number of care homes falls by 1,700 since 2015

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrats have called for urgent action to address the growing social care crisis, after new figures reveal the number of care homes across England has fallen by 10% since 2015. The data, acquired by the Liberal Democrats from the House of Commons Library, also shows that while the average number of beds per care home rose from 27 to 30 during that time, 5,110 beds have been lost overall. Some areas have lost 40 per cent of care home beds, exposing a dangerous postcode lottery in the availability of residential social care. Last month it emerged that hotels were being converted into temporary care facilities, with staff flown in from Spain and Greece, to relieve the strain on NHS hospital beds as over 10,000 beds were occupied by medically…
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24Sep 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
NHS and care workers to face £900 million tax bill under National Insurance hike

NHS and care workers to face £900 million tax bill under National Insurance hike

Parliamentary news
Nurses, care home staff and other health and social care workers will pay over £900 million more in tax under Boris Johnson’s increase to National Insurance, new research reveals. Analysis by the House of Commons Library commissioned by the Liberal Democrats estimates that those working in health and social care will pay 12% of the £7.4 billion expected to be raised from employees through the tax rise. The estimate also doesn’t include those working in health and social care who are self-employed, meaning the real figure is likely to be even higher. The Liberal Democrats said this showed the government was launching a “tax raid on NHS and care home heroes” who have been on the frontline of the pandemic. The research also shows the expected tax hike that will…
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16Aug 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government stats reveal care home covid cases triple in July

Government stats reveal care home covid cases triple in July

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has accused the Government of “leaving our care homes exposed” as statistics have shown care home cases tripled in July. The stats on Adult Social Care in England for August 2021 show: There were 14,660 positive Covid tests among care home staff in the four weeks to July 27, triple the 4,552 positive tests recorded among care home staff in June, analysis of figures from the Department of Health and Social Care have revealed.The figures are the highest since the pandemic was surging during the second wave in February of this year.2,047 care home residents tested positive in the four weeks to July 27, up from 596 the previous month. The figures also show 78% of staff in care homes have now received two doses…
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15Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Mandatory vaccination for care staff is not a quick fix

Mandatory vaccination for care staff is not a quick fix

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the Government is considering making vaccination mandatory for care home workers, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Munira Wilson MP said: “Care home staff have gone above and beyond over the course of this pandemic and the Liberal Democrats offer our thanks for all their hard work. “We strongly support the vaccination programme and urge everyone to get their jab when asked to. However, we are concerned that the Government is considering making vaccination compulsory for care home staff. “Before considering such a measure, the Government should be making every possible effort to enable all health and care staff to get the jab as easily as possible. This should include paid time off and travel expenses to get the jab. For those who…
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25Jan 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Government could have done more for frontline workers

Government could have done more for frontline workers

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that some front-line occupations are at a higher risk of death, including nurses and care workers, Liberal Democrat Health & Social Care Spokesperson Munira Wilson MP said: “We are in debt to all the front-line workers who have put their own health at risk to fight this virus and keep us safe. Everyone must continue to do their bit and make every effort to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. “This new data shows the sacrifice that front-line workers have made to protect us all from this terrible disease. It is clear that the Government could have done far more to protect our key workers by providing proper PPE and an effective test, trace and isolate system. "Even now many cases are not…
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10Dec 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Warm welcome for arrival of ‘cold vaccine’ for Covid -19

Warm welcome for arrival of ‘cold vaccine’ for Covid -19

Borough news
The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has given a warm welcome to news that the first Covid-19 vaccine is finally being distributed for use with the most vulnerable group in society, care home residents. Councillor Sykes said: “The logistics associated with the transport and storage of this vaccine are considerable as it must be stored at minus 70 degrees centigrade until shortly before its use, but it is my hope that the residents of Oldham’s care homes (and staff) will soon be able to receive it – let us hope by Christmas. “If we could combine the vaccine roll-out with the introduction of 30-minute on-site lateral flow tests for family members, then face-to-face visits to care homes, allowing physical contact in safety, may become possible and this…
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24Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Davey: Government cannot allow repeat tragedy in care homes

Davey: Government cannot allow repeat tragedy in care homes

Parliamentary news
Following the Prime Minister's press conference , Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Mass testing and vaccines are hugely welcome and bring hope for a return to normal life at long last. And I’m pleased governments across the four nations listened to the Liberal Democrat call for a UK wide approach to the festive period. "But it’s so wrong that the Prime Minister still refuses to help the millions of self-employed people excluded from any support for the entirety of this crisis. "Equally, to avoid a wide scale repeat of the earlier tragedy in our care homes, Ministers must guarantee that no care homes are being forced to admit people who are COVID positive.”
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15Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats backing calls for care home window visits

Liberal Democrats backing calls for care home window visits

Borough news
With rumours swirling around whether Greater Manchester will move into Tier 3 of the new warning systems, Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani is backing calls for local and national Government to ensure that “window visits” and end-of-life visiting rules are revised to ensure that families get to ensure the care and emotional support that they need. Window visits are conducted on care homes where families are on the grounds, and their relatives stay indoors – they can see each other and hold a real conversation, but the windows reduce the risk of passing on infections. Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “I have spoken to local residents who have not been able to offer grandparents the support and love that they need. I absolutely agree with the need to control this virus, but we…
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03Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems: Government have deserted care homes entirely

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that the Government has abandoned their pledge to test all care home residents regularly throughout the summer, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The decision to drop the pledge to test all care home residents regularly would be a decision to desert care home residents entirely. The reports today, if true, are sadly just another example of a Government that is either woefully incompetent or one that simply doesn’t care. "The Government has made clear right throughout the coronavirus crisis that protecting those in our care homes is not a priority for them - from the beginning of the crisis, Ministers failed to equip care homes with sufficient testing and PPE, whilst discharging patients with the virus into their homes. "The…
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30Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Leaked letter shows thousands of care home residents being exposed to virus

Parliamentary news
Responding to a leaked letter from Care UK showing that they no longer have access to regular testing for staff and residents, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “If we needed any evidence that this Government is still throwing care homes to the wolves, then this is it. From the very beginning of the pandemic this Government failed to ensure care homes had access to adequate testing and PPE, whilst discharging patients with the virus into their homes. "This letter is damning. With a potential second peak on the horizon, the UK's largest provider of social care no longer having access to regular testing for staff and residents will leave thousands of our most vulnerable exposed to coronavirus. "The Prime Minister and his Government are not learning the lessons they need to if…
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