Care homes across England are struggling under “immense” pressure with staffing absence levels over 50% in some areas of the country, it has been claimed.
The National Care Forum (NCF) – a not-for-profit trade association for social care providers – said it has become “ever more apparent” that care providers across the country are finding individual services hit hard by staff absences associated with high levels of community transmission of COVID 19.
A survey by the association provides a “clear and loud” alarm for government to take note of just how hard COVID-19 is hitting on the frontline with most of its members reporting between 11% and 40% staff absence and a some reporting staffing absence levels of over 50%.
At the same time last year, the average staff absence rate across the board for NCF members was 7% and so anything above 10% can be regarded as “unusual”, a spokesperson said.
Absences were caused by a combination of COVID-19 positive case being picked up by PCR testing, self-isolation following contact tracing, shielding and childcare responsibilities.
Vic Rayner, executive director of the NCF, said that it is “essential” that the government acknowledges that that care services are under “immense” pressure.
Rayner said: “Staff in care services have been at the very front line of this battle against Covid-19 for over 11 months, and are shattered both physically and emotionally.
“In the midst of this, individuals and teams are stepping up once again to flex and cover large-scale staff absences brought about by a combination of testing, self-isolation, shielding and childcare. They are undoubtedly heroes but asking them to do this over and again is not sustainable.
Rayner added that while media attention has focused on the pressure being experienced by hospitals and the NHS, this is a “red flag” that pressure is mounting in the social care sector too.
Rayner said: “We must pay close attention to this as social care is integral to the overall system. If people cannot be supported to leave hospital, whether that is by moving into a care home or having care at home, then the whole system will fail. NHS saves lives – but so does social care – and it must be properly supported to ensure that it can play its vital role in making the whole system work for communities.
“Action is needed now to ensure social care services can provide the care and support so desperately needed. Additional capacity needs to be resourced and built into care services to allow for full staffing to be available in the light of short-term absences of the nature that services are seeing during this period of exceptionally high community transmission.”
Rayner added that vaccination for care workers must be delivered “at pace” and the turnaround of testing in care homes should be prioritised.
Rayner said: “Every day that we turn a blind eye to the challenges facing social care, our chances of addressing the equally pressing challenges in health care are diminished. The time for action is now.”