I have not divulged the details or identity of the nursing home that Sharon works in, as a healthcarer, so it should be okay to post this.
Sharon returned to work yesterday. During our three weeks of quarantine with Covid-19, eight residents have died, with three more in the previous week all tested as having Covid-19. Currently there are 34 residents. 4 have already been tested as positive. The rest including the staff were tested yesterday and waiting for the results, today? Yesterday one resident was on his way back to his own home on his wife's insistence, he died in a wheel chair in the lift on his way out, so very sad. So on average, over that four week period, there has been three deaths per week from Covid-19. Roughly 9% per week of the residents.
The PPE provided has improved slightly, with proper surgical masks instead of the flimsy tissue paper ones, that got wet very quickly.
The staffing situation is really dire, many are off sick, shielding or have simply left. Yesterday afternoon there were just three carers left on duty, Sharon being one of them, instead of the normal nine. They were completely rushed of their feet, but somehow managed. Given that the heating is set at 25°C, understandably, rushing around was most uncomfortable and sweaty, with Sharon having moderate COPD as well, very hard work.
There are beds for more residents, but cannot be filled with not enough staff to look after them. But who would want to work under those conditions for minimum wage with the obvious, additional risk to their own health? Things really are going to have to change with all care homes, they cannot continue like this. Where is the CQC now that the conditions are getting dangerous with low staffing levels, just what are they doing. Are CQC, hiding in their burrows, frightened to go out and inspect anymore? I bet that are all still drawing their full salaries.
Update: 4 more residents have been tested as positive making a total of 7 out of 34 residents which is now a little over 20% of them.
Written by
2greys
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Morning to you Both, so Glad your back on the Forum. So Sad for Sharon & All the Residents. The CQC I take it are the Managers who have the Job of Issuing PPE Protection and Yes are Highly Paid, They were given a Job to do, Much like all "Heads" of NHS. Maybe I'm wrong as all I see is attacks on the Government, Yet, These CEO's are Employed to oversee the Needs of Patients & Staff. My Son, who is now back with the MET and covering Westminster, I may add very Happy But with Tongue in Cheek, His Civilian Job has been kept open for him, But, He does not relish going back, as all they do is have "Daily Meetings" with NO, outcome, He has tried so Hard as a Manager to Direct them to Find Purpose for their unwarranted "Meetings" They are all on a Good salaries, There is a Certain age Group here. ! They should all be put on the Front Line and Hopefully find "Common Sense" Sorry got Carried away. Love to you & Sharon, so glad your Back. XXX C
Your feelings are very evident 2greys and rightly so. You and Sharon have experienced all areas the virus has invaded and, as a result, seen the many shortcomings that have to be addressed in the future.
I, like many others, have regularly clapped for the nurses, carers and all the other brave people. But it's just not enough! When this pandemic is "over" I just hope that these things wont just drift back into peoples memories. We have to stand up and be counted, force our governments to listen and make change happen.
Good to see your fire has not been quelled and your sense of justice is intact.
My post is made from first hand information of just one nursing home, which does have a few nurses as part of the staff. Other nursing homes and residential homes will be totally different, some better and some worse, but they are all facing the same crisis which needs addressing urgently.
Talking of nurses, one of the nurses is part time and who also works in another home, the risk of cross contamination between homes has to be there and that sort of practice must be stopped.
Horrific situation for all involved, heartbreaking. I feel for you and sharon so much as well as all the residents. It's just unbelievable how we were allowed to get to this point in the care sector. It's been decades now that the care sector has been trying to get governments to sit up and take notice, they just give lip service and introduce more standards and regulations with no funding to match. So angry regarding social care and nursing homes. So sorry for your partner Sharon and all those having to face these situations daily, it's shameful. And it must be so hard for you also seeing your partner having to work in that situation. I just pray that they will eventually take action as a result of this 🤞😘 xxx
My daughter works in a care home, up until a couple of weeks ago they had no efficient PPE at all and were wearing cotton masks that my sister made for all the staff there. They still try to be cheerful for the residents but the strain, both mentally and physically is enormous. I am very frightened for her but she says someone has to look after them and keeps on keeping on. XXX
Extremely important for Sharon to keep herself well else you could both become ill again. Poor Sharon. I mean what a predicament to be in. She like all those wonderful people who care for our most vunerable loved ones is almost being held to ransom and it is disgraceful.
Thank you for this insight and i wonder how many other care homes are facing the same hardships.
Take care and do your best to stay safe but also a huge, huge "thannk you" to Sharon and many like her accross the UK.
I think you are right 2g, no matter how distressing this is, to bring it to the fore, especially from personal experience. My friend, who has a different condition to us, has a Mum in a care home and only a few weeks ago had no covid at all. Now there have been 9 staff tested positive and a further 5 and sadly 2 patient deaths. She is so concerned for her Mum, the other patients and the staff, who have been amazing.
I worry about all the front line staff, who although used to dealing with death and sickness, nowhere close to this scale and speed and I am concerned for their mental wellbeing as well as physical.
Covid is bringing out the worst and the best in humanity and we are lucky enough to have the best in Sharon and all the other key workers. Thank you all.
It is hard to put into words the effect the stress of it all has. It goes a long way to explaining why so many staff are resigning. In a lot of ways I think it can be harder for care home staff, as they get to know the residents personally and build up a relationship with them, only to be taken before their time. So very cruel. It is also very difficult for me to console Sharon, when she loses a "favourite" for any reason, from Covid or otherwise. She is so busy at work that she does not have time to think and reflect, all that happens when she gets home, with suddenly bursting into tears.
It is nice to know what is actually going on out there in Care Homes. Quite a disgraceful state of affairs.
I take my hat off to Sharon going back to a situation with less staff and knowing she will be exhausted when she comes home from work. I really think the government should look at changing the rate of pay for Nurses and Care Workers, most of them do over and above their duty and should be paid accordingly. I hope Sharon keeps well.
I think our NHS workers and carers have been put on the front line with this virus something I hope nobody will ever have to deal with on this large scale.
It makes your blood boil doesnt it ? It's that attitude of old people not mattering ( going to die anyway.) Or care assistants who usually only make the press when some bad apple gets hauled up before the courts.
All of what you say 2g is really heart wrenching ,for Sharon and other carers in the same position.I myself has been in same situation,although not with this virus fortunately.We were always rushed off our feet,always on a time limit trying to see to so many at the same time,Most just wanted you to sit down with them and have a few kind words with them , hold their hand.Woe betide if you got caught time wasting as they called it.The people who own these homes must be making a fortune,The charge to old folk in the homes,is diobolical and needs to be stopped.Poor sharon .cannot leave her job at work. we always brought it home with us as she does.Any poor soul in future will be frightened to go in an home after all this. Rose x
I utterly am lost for words on this back door scandal. The CQC do not seem to be backing their weight on this.
It must be utterly heart breaking and stressful for both of you to know that Sharon and her residents are so under supported. Its alright saying protect the NHS
..but what about the really vulnerable in care abd nursing homes... did the governent think a magic pink bubble would come down and protect that nursing home and csre home sector... or did they just not think...or worse didn't give a toss
Hi,Greys,I think the situation in nursing homes has been truly awful.
With the benefit f hindsight,I think that Govt and population bacame complacent about the possibility of a pandemic
I keep resubmitting my question to the daily briefing about the necessity of planning to stockpile PPE,for potential Pandemic. They need to consider the need to prioritise quality over cost.
Yhey also need to keep the testing systems and tracing updated.
Rest assured QVC staff will all be safely furloughed.
More crucial is the need for Sharon to take great care of herself.
I worked on the Nurse bank after retirement.
When I was diagnosed 19 months ago with Non Specific Interstitial Pneumonia, then lupus RA ,now on immunosuppressants.
I really can’t work any more, even if I was allowed n a ward setting
Sorry this is late,was ill last week,ended. Up in A N E.
Testing is still not up to par She was tested (clear) last Monday, nothing since. Not good enough still, it should be at least twice weekly to be anywhere near effective. We both take our temperature each morning, it only takes a minute. The nurses at the home recon that she did have the virus, which means I did too and still short of breath today, but until the antibody test is available we still can't be sure.
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