Covid Forces Care Homes To Close To New Residents

Outbreaks mean hundreds are stuck in hospital waiting to be discharged

- Helena Vesty

A 'SIGNIFICANT number of coronavirus outbreaks within care homes across Greater Manchester has led to sites being shut down to hundreds of patients stuck in hospitals, currently awaiting discharge.

Just like their hospital counterparts, staff on the frontline of the region's social care sector have been hit by the Omicron wave.

A workforce already depleted by historic shortages is facing further shortages as the new variant takes root in Greater Manchester in what health chiefs are describing as a 'perfect storm The new variant, initially more dominant among younger population more likely to socialise, has found its way into care homes.

In their droves, staff are testing positive or isolating after being in contact with someone who already has the virus, and outbreaks within care homes have followed.

The exponential spread has now seen a significant number of outbreaks resulting in homes closed to admission Greater Manchester health bosses have confirmed.

Social care in Greater Manchester is facing a challenged picture,” read a briefing on the latest pressures on the health and care system, issued by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership on Friday.

The reasons for this are related to reduced staffing due to sickness, isolation or awaiting test results as well as a significant number of outbreaks resulting in homes closed to admission.” The percentage of care home residents in Greater Manchester with Covid or suspected Covid has jumped from 0.9 per cent to 4.7pc in two weeks.

Although well below rates seen in the wider population and, anecdotally, leading largely to mild coldlike symptoms, the new wave has resulted in rocketing absence among staff forced into selfisolation.