“This week I’ve received comments from a Devon care home about major concerns:

• Regarding COVID-19 testing, if and when they can get the swabs collected at all the results are taking anything up to 7 days making them “really quite useless” for residents and staff alike

• If homes can’t distinguish immediately between colds, flu or Coronavirus, isolating staff members suffering with a cold on full pay for 2 weeks will not be sustainable

• The government’s guideline of one visitor per resident by appointment for 1/2 hour outside, is fast going to become impossible with the onset of the colder season

The government announced regular testing of care home staff, but according to multiple sources this is not happening, with one care worker reporting only having been tested once.

We have seen reports last week that more than 400 care home residents were dying a day at the peak of the pandemic. These figures are yet another reminder of the tragic toll coronavirus has taken on people in care homes. The government was too slow to act to protect residents and care home staff and they still have not learnt the lessons from their mistakes to ensure we are prepared in the run up to winter and in the event of a second wave. Having failed to meet their pledge for weekly testing of care home staff in June, and with many families still not able to visit their loved ones, Ministers must get a grip and put in place a proper winter plan to ensure social care gets the support it needs.

What can the committee do to address these concerns and bring them to the attention of government with a view to establishing more effective policy?

I would like to reinforce the Committee’s thanks to officers for the invaluable COVID-19 pandemic work they do making sure services continue to reach communities, ensuring the most vulnerable people are cared for and that frontline staff are supported.”