Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum (NCF) – the leading association for not-for-profit care providers responds to the publication of data on deaths in care homes by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Rayner says:
“The CQC publication today is a reminder of the terrible toll that has been felt by those who live in care homes, their loved ones and the workforce. Behind each number is the life of an individual whose life has been lost in the pandemic. Lives cut short before their time, lived by people who were loved and are greatly missed by family and friends. Many families will feel that loss again seeing this publication, as will the care home staff and providers who have cared for and supported them for many months and years.
“Throughout the pandemic we have supported our members to be open and transparent. It is important that CQC recognises that the information published today is not an indication of the quality or safety in individual care homes and that many of the notifications relate to deaths of care home residents which occurred in other settings.
“Revisiting the ordeal of the pandemic is difficult for all concerned and it is essential that the information published is handled with sensitivity and the greatest respect.
“The pandemic has shown the integral role care and support plays in people’s lives. We urge the government to be ambitious for social care and work together with people who receive care and support, their families and the wider care sector to develop a long-term strategy that recognises the vital role of social care in supporting and delivering essential services for millions of people every day.”
“We join with our members in expressing our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of all those who have passed, in what has been an unprecedented time. Through open and transparent conversations our members will continue to support and provide high quality care to the people who need it most.”
End
Note to Editors:
- The National Care Forum brings together over 144 of the UK’s leading social care organisations, representing large numbers of care providers, offering thousands of services across the country, which are not for profit and always at the heart of community provision. Collectively, these organisations deliver more than £2 billion of social care support to more than 189,500 people, operate over 6,500 settings and provide more than 47,500 care home places. The NCF membership body collectively employs more than 95,500 colleagues.
- Care Quality Commission report: COVID-19 Insight 12: Data on death notifications involving COVID-19 received from individual care homes in England.
- Video: An animation examining the reasons for the high death rates in care homes in the UK during the pandemic. Produced by Newcastle Clinical Psychology Team in collaboration with regional wellbeing hubs in the North East of England. The video is part of the CAIT program in dementia.
- More information is available on the National Care Forum at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk. @NCFCareForum @vicrayner @NCF_Liz
- Vic Rayner OBE is the CEO of the NCF and in addition is on the board of Hestia, the Care Workers Charity and the Global Ageing Network.
- For enquiries, please contact Edna Petzen, edna.petzen@nationalcareforum.org.uk
; 
