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Question
The Labour MP, Liz Kendall, questioned why guidance suggesting care homes were unlikely to be infected was not withdrawn until March 12th despite warnings from the Chief Medical Officer on March 4th. She also asked about delays in testing requirements for those discharged from hospitals to care homes and queried ongoing issues with PPE supply due to requisition by the NHS.
Minister reply
The Minister emphasised that early guidance was based on limited knowledge at the time, and testing priorities were adjusted as understanding of the virus evolved. He acknowledged challenges in balancing resource allocation between health and social care sectors but maintained that significant support has been provided throughout.
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Question
Kendall further questioned why it took until mid-April for the Government to produce a comprehensive social care plan, despite repeated warnings. She also inquired about issues with access to testing and test result delays faced by some care providers.
Minister reply
The Minister responded that plans were developed and communicated as understanding of the virus expanded. He acknowledged ongoing challenges but reiterated commitments to improve data collection and support for social care services.
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Question
In conclusion, Kendall called on the Government to guarantee that no social care provider will collapse due to financial strain caused by this virus. She urged for a more proactive and responsive approach.
Minister reply
The Minister committed to continuing support for social care providers through financial aid and other measures, promising to address any delays or issues in service delivery proactively.
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Question
Over 23,000 more people have died in care homes... Will the Secretary of State explain how he squares all that with his claim that Government have thrown a “protective cloak” around care homes right from the start?
Minister reply
I welcome the hon. Lady to her post and thank her for cross-party working during this crisis. We made social care a priority from the start, issuing guidance in February and updating it as community transmission broadened. Discharges are necessary clinical decisions often safer than hospital stays if infection control procedures are in place. PPE distribution has been challenging due to global shortages, but processes are now in place for care homes with shortages. The £600 million more put through will go directly into social care.
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Question
Clearly, tackling this virus in care homes is a very difficult thing... Does the Secretary of State agree that what is required to achieve this, as in Hertfordshire, is a very close working relationship—a partnership—between care homes, councils, the Care Quality Commission and, of course, clinical commissioning groups?
Minister reply
I entirely agree. Partnership working has improved significantly during this crisis between local authorities and all parts of the NHS with their statutory responsibilities.
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Question
The London School of Economics reported that there were over 23,000 excess deaths in care homes... How does the Secretary of State explain the other 10,000? Testing of care home staff is critical to reduce spread, but how will he improve return of results and address concerns about false negatives?
Minister reply
Work was done to assess efficacy between professionally administered and self-administered tests, finding no significant difference. The increased number of deaths in care homes is being analysed by clinical advisers; the Government are working on crisis response.
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Question
In Harrogate and Knaresborough... Does my right hon. Friend agree, and can the idea of this facility be replicated further across the country?
Minister reply
Yes, I pay tribute to those working in Harrogate to improve services as described by my hon. Friend.
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Question
The Select Committee on Health and Social Care has just heard evidence that there has been not one single care home death in Hong Kong or South Korea... How can Government describe this as a success?
Minister reply
Absolutely it is important to learn from everywhere around the world; this epidemic has had different shapes in different parts of the world.
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Question
It is good to see my right hon. Friend bearing up so well... Can he reassure me that the PPE supply into the UK and within the UK is now flowing into all care homes in a timely and comprehensive manner?
Minister reply
Yes, I can reassure my right hon. Friend that supplies of PPE into the country have improved significantly, and we are working to get this equipment out to where it needs to be, with the number of care homes reporting stock outs within 48 hours falling.
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Question
At this morning’s Health and Social Care Committee, Care England said that care staff were suffering a constant cycle of bereavement. With so many deaths in care homes, staff are not only caring for but also comforting those they know well who are dying alone. So will the Secretary of State take steps this week to provide a 24-hour mental health phone line for all care staff as well as fast-track access to professional mental health services?
Minister reply
I will absolutely look into the proposal that the hon. Member puts forward.
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Question
The Secretary of State is doing a phenomenal job in addressing a huge crisis. One care home, Milford Care, has requested test kits on 12 May but was told there was a very limited supply and they may get them only on Wednesday this week or have to re-register for them. The virus could be spreading among staff and residents who are not aware of their status.
Minister reply
I think the best thing they can do is raise it with their effective local MP, who can bring it to my attention. I will get right on to it, straight after this session in the House of Commons.
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Question
CQC data revealed a 175% increase in deaths among people with autism and learning difficulties last month. The new care home testing portal is only available to homes whose residents are aged 65 and over. What is the Minister doing to ensure that all care homes can access tests? Will the Government conduct a review of why there has been such an increase in deaths among these groups?
Minister reply
I addressed this point in my opening response to the urgent question. We will roll out testing to care homes of all ages, and I take this very seriously indeed.
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Question
The Resolution Foundation has detailed that 61% of frontline careworkers in England are paid less than the real living wage. The Scottish Government introduced a real living wage for carers in 2017. Will the Secretary of State follow their lead and give frontline careworkers in England a real living wage?
Minister reply
I am a massive supporter of the living wage, which has had a very positive impact on the pay of the lowest paid people in our country right across the board, including many in care homes.
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Question
The £600 million presented by the Secretary of State for infection control is very welcome. Would the Secretary of State consider putting yearly virus drills, like fire drills, in place to help deal with possible second waves?
Minister reply
Yes, we are doing a huge amount of work now to ensure that there is protection in the future should there be a further increase and especially in advance of winter.
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Question
Brent Council established a separate care facility for patients discharged from hospital back into the care system, regardless of their testing status. Now Brent has one of the lowest number of care home deaths in London. Why didn’t he learn from this example?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, and while I do want to congratulate Brent for its actions, responsibility for care homes is formally with local councils which themselves have to act.
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Question
On behalf of the care homes in Worcestershire, I thank the Secretary of State for the extra £7 million that will be reaching them. Can he confirm that this money will also be available to support domiciliary careworkers who regularly visit homes of individuals needing care?
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Question
Sonya Kaygan, a highly skilled and committed careworker but working in a low-pay sector caused by the near £8 billion cut to its funding in the past decade. Will the Secretary of State commit to ending the scandal of low pay in the care sector and reverse a decade of cuts to social care budgets?
Minister reply
We have put an unprecedented amount of funding into social care during the crisis, and we have also increased the living wage through its increase.
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Question
The Secretary of State will be aware that a testing centre in Bexhill is available to care home workers for testing. If they follow Government advice and go on the website, however, they are directed further afield. Will he help to ensure that this testing centre is made available to careworkers so that they have more protection locally?
Minister reply
Yes, absolutely. My hon. Friend texted me about that last week. We are working on it and we rolled out the testing centres at an unbelievable pace during April.
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Question
Care England's chief executive said we should have been focusing on care homes from the start of this crisis. He also criticised the discharge of patients from hospitals into care homes, saying there were people who either didn’t have a covid-19 status or were symptomatic and were discharged into care homes full of people with underlying health conditions. Ministers have said that fewer care home residents were discharged in March than in previous months this year. Will the Secretary of State commit to publishing those figures?
Minister reply
I am happy to look into that. Martin Green also said: ‘It has become clear that in such a crisis we need further direction from Central Government.’
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Question
Will the Secretary of State join me in praising the work of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight local resilience forum, which means no care home has been without personal protective equipment during the pandemic? Will he also consider appointing a social care commissioner to lead this work and be the voice of the social care sector?
Minister reply
Yes. I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to Hampshire and I am interested in talking to her more about her idea.
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Emma Hardy
Lab
Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Question
A resident's mother, classified as clinically extremely vulnerable in a care home, is being kept in solitary confinement for three months. The MP asks the Secretary of State to urgently provide clear guidance on how care homes should treat shielded residents.
Minister reply
The Minister agrees with the need for proportionate measures and offers to review specific cases if provided details by the MP. He emphasises that clinical circumstances should guide decisions, and he hopes the care home will take a balanced approach.
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Question
When will all care home staff and residents be tested for coronavirus? Additionally, how can the Government reassure residents who are reluctant to get tested?
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that testing is important and being rolled out both for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals to control the spread of the virus in care homes.
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Question
During Mental Health Awareness Week, can consideration be given to constructing a mental health action plan for frontline healthcare workers with the support of all four UK Governments?
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledges the importance of addressing mental health impacts due to the pandemic and agrees to discuss the proposal with Chief Medical Officers.
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Question
Does acceptance of a £60,000 payment for care home workers who die from coronavirus preclude legal action if negligence is suspected? What is the thinking behind this?
Minister reply
The Minister commits to writing back with full details regarding the payment and its implications.
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Question
How does the Secretary of State pay tribute to care home owners who refused to accept 15,000 hospital patients discharged from hospitals in late March due to exposure to coronavirus?
Minister reply
The Minister conveys best wishes and acknowledges that decisions are based on clinical advice regarding safety and infection control measures.
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Question
Will the Secretary of State commit to publishing all SAGE advice received during the outbreak concerning infection control in care homes?
Minister reply
The Minister confirms that SAGE advice is regularly published.