UK death toll from coronavirus could be a DOUBLE official number of homecare claims after 92 outbreaks in one day – The Sun

The heads of HEALTH are playing Russian roulette with the lives of the elderly due to the lack of evidence, the heads of nursing homes said yesterday.

The warning came as 13 residents emerged who had died in a home in Stanley, Co Durham, and the death toll in national care homes may have already exceeded 1,000.

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Former pension minister Baroness Altmann, who has long campaigned for the dignity of older people, said the crisis showed how some of society’s most vulnerable were being “abandoned like lambs to the slaughterhouse.”

The figures came yesterday amid a series of shocking revelations about the crisis.

Last night at a briefing on Downing Street, medical director Professor Chris Whitty said that 13.5 percent of care homes in England now have coronaviruses, compared to nine percent a week ago.

There have been Covid-19 outbreaks in 92 nursing homes in the past 24 hours, he added.

Households say they are being forced to retrieve patients who are discharged from the hospital without knowing if they have coronavirus.

Shocking revelation

It was also claimed that some doctors did not register coronaviruses on the death certificates of care residents.

A whistleblower, who works at the death registry in southern England, told Channel 4 News that “in many cases” it had been neglected.

The source claimed that there were “dozens and dozens” of errors on the death certificates.

They added that a resident’s death certificate was attributed to Alzheimer’s disease, despite being suspected of contracting Covid-19.

In a phone call, the complainant said they asked a GP, “Alzheimer’s, is that so?”

To which the doctor replied: “Yes, I just said that because we did not go out to see him.

“It was probably Covid, but we put Alzheimer’s on the death certificate because it’s over 80 years old.”

The complainant also claimed that deaths in nursing homes increased “considerably” compared to last year.

It was probably Covid, but we put Alzheimer’s on the death certificate because he’s over 80 years old.

Whistleblower

Rachel Beckett of Wellburn, who runs 14 nursing homes in the north and northeast, spoke after five Stanley residents were confirmed dead on Sunday.

She said, “I have a duty to care for my residents, their loved ones, and my staff.

“How can I admit with good conscience to any patient in any of our homes when we have no idea if they have Covid-19 or not?

“Our staffing levels are woefully depleted. And our remaining staff, while still tough and in a good mood, is shattered, overworked, and pushed to the limit as it is.

“Expecting us to follow these instructions is tantamount to playing Russian roulette with the lives of the people here to keep us safe and secure.”

Three other houses in Yorkshire. Essex and Glasgow have already lost 13 residents.

Another 11 died at a site in Northamptonshire and 15 at one in Luton.

Authorities would only say that many residents had died at Edgemont View in Oldland Common, near Bristol.

At least three caregivers have also died in the past two weeks. However, the daily number of deaths published by the Department of Health and Social Assistance includes only hospital cases.

The Office for National Statistics is now publishing the number of deaths in nursing homes, but these figures are based on death certificates, which take time to issue, causing a delay in the numbers.

The ONS said there were 20 nursing home deaths as of the week of March 27, but industry leaders estimated the number at around 1,000.

Alzheimer’s Society activists Marie Curie, Age UK, Care England and Independent Age called on the Government to provide more evidence and personal protective equipment for homes.

A joint letter read: “Older people’s lives are worth no less. Homecare staff are not second-class caregivers.”

Dr Nick Phin, Deputy Director of Public Health for England, said there was guidance for social care and hospital discharge teams “to minimize any risk of transmission.”

He added: “The same guidance advises on accessing the appropriate evidence.”

Regarding 92 households served that reported outbreaks in the past 24 hours, the medical director, Professor Chris Whitty, added: “If an outbreak is suspected, public health authorities will come in and test.

“That allows absolutely fantastic home care staff to make sure it doesn’t spread.”

Boris Johnson brought the UK to a close with drastic measures on March 23 in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

Now that three weeks have passed, the government will review the measures.

Ministers will agree whether the blockade should be extended, phased out, or if there should be even more severe restrictions in the UK by April 16 at the latest.

Matt Hancock describes the new coronavirus application that allows people to document symptoms and warn those around them

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