Two members of staff and one resident have died at Highbury New Park after coronavirus infections

CORONAVIRUS has struck at care homes in Islington, killing both residents and workers.

The tragedy has led charities and campaigners to accuse the government of neglecting some of the most vulnerable in society.

At the Highbury New Park care home two members of staff and one resident have died after Covid-19 virus infections.

Another elderly resident is being treated in hospital.

Meanwhile, at the Bridgeside Lodge care home in King’s Cross, a “number of residents” have died from the virus including former Islington councillor Wally Burgess. He died on Monday aged 79.

His wife, Janet Burgess, the deputy leader of Islington Council, told the Tribune: “It was Covid, he had it and he died from it. I had known for a week that he had it. You wait for it (death), then it happens and it makes you numb.”

Care homes have been susceptible to coronavirus because many of the elderly residents have recurring health issues which means they have to go back and forth to hospitals, where coronavirus patients are being treated.

While there have been cases of younger patients running into severe trouble and sadly dying, the trend of coronavirus shows it is also more dangerous for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

Care home workers have long called for more testing and personal protection equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and shield the residents they are looking after each day.

Cllr Burgess, who is also the Town Hall’s social care chief, added: “Care homes have borne the brunt of this virus. We think it (levels of PPE) is OK at the moment.

“But we need an amazing amount each week and we always worry about the next lot.”

The government has scrambled to respond as horror stories have emerged from different care homes around the country.

Health secretary Matt Hancock announced on Wednesday that the government would offer testing to “everyone who needs it” in care homes.

A ‘number of residents’ have died after coronavirus infections at Bridgeside Lodge in King’s Cross

But for unions, campaigners and charities who have been calling for the government to act for weeks, it is too little too late.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “We know now that only some 500 social care staff have been tested so far and there are almost one-and-a-half million still to go. This is a total disaster because it means that, sadly, the social care system is going to have to fight the virus for the foreseeable future without generally knowing who has had it and is ‘safe’, and who hasn’t and is still at risk.

“The problem is this leaves care providers ‘flying blind’, increasing the risk to older people and care workers alike that they will become infected. It may also lead to some care workers self-isolating unnecessarily, piling pressure on other members of staff. Any hope that testing would save the day for social care as it confronts the deadly coronavirus has unfortunately been dashed.”

According to government figures, roughly 200 people have died from Covid-19 in care homes across England and Wales. Care England, which represents independent care providers, says that the real figure is likely to be at least four times higher than that.

The latest statistics from the UK government have listed deaths in care homes as making up between 5 and 15 per cent of the overall toll.

Bob Collins, chairman of the Islington Pensioners Forum, told the Tribune: “We have always campaigned for carers. For so long the work they do has not been recognised by the government.

“Now this has thrown everything up in front of us, hasn’t it? Now we are all realising how important care workers are and what makes everything worse is that they have been ignored.”

Mr Collins, 74, who lives on the same street as the Highbury New Park home, added: “It seems the Government has not been prepared for this at all. We have known for a while that this virus is coming and what impact it would have.

“Why was more protective equipment not bought, why have care homes been left to fend for themselves? When all this is over there should be a major inquiry. But at this moment in time we need to all stick together to keep everyone well.”

Cllr Janet Burgess

Jane Doolan, Islington branch secretary for Unison union who represent the Care UK workers in the Highbury New Park home, said: “Islington Unison is very concerned to hear of deaths at HNP care home. We have been dealing with individual concerns from members employed by Care UK and agencies providing home care on behalf of the council.

“These concerns are mainly around lack of PPE.”

Care UK’s regional director, Deliana Katsiaounis, said: “Our team at Highbury New Park has been doing the most incredible job under challenging circumstances. To minimise the risk to the home, a number of colleagues have been self-isolating according to Government guidance.

“Unfortunately, in the last three weeks two colleagues from the home have very sadly died. Out of respect for their families and to protect their privacy, we are unable to provide any other further details at this point.

“Three residents were transferred from the home to hospital where they tested positive for coronavirus. One has sadly passed away, one remains in hospital and the third, having shown major improvements, has returned to the home. Our entire team is grieving these losses and our thoughts and condolences are with their families.”

She added: “We are being exceptionally careful about infection control in the home and are closely following government-issued guidance for care home environments. We have implemented a process known as barrier nursing which involves isolating any resident who shows even the slightest symptoms that may indicate coronavirus.

“This involves stringent use of personal protective equipment as well as limiting colleagues to one area of the home where possible. We have a good supply of PPE and our teams have been using it meticulously since the beginning of the outbreak.”

A spokesman for Bridgeside Lodge, in Wharf Road, said: “We can confirm that there are suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 amongst the residents of the home, and that sadly, a number of residents have passed away having contracted the virus in addition to having serious underlying health conditions over recent weeks. Our thoughts and condolences go to the families who have lost a loved one to this terrible illness.”

He added: “As a home, we look after many people with very serious conditions, including end of life care, and this frequently involves visits to and from hospital, which can at times put our most vulnerable residents at a higher risk of infection.

“All government guidance has been followed regarding isolation. The mortality rate amongst vulnerable people with serious underlying health conditions is high, and sadly, we have lost some residents as a result.”
Cllr Burgess said that her husband had received “wonderful” care at Bridgeside.

Cllr Richard Watts, Islington’s Council leader, said: “The country is facing the greatest public health crisis we have seen in many generations. Our deepest sympathy and heartfelt thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones at this difficult time.

“The council is working extremely closely with all of our care homes during the current crisis to offer support and assistance while they care for and protect some of our most vulnerable residents. We are also calling on the national government to urgently equip the adult social care workforce with what they need to properly support residents, and protect themselves.”

Mr Hancock said: “I am deeply conscious that people in residential care are among the most vulnerable to coronavirus. We have already begun testing social care workers and will roll this out nationwide over the coming days.

“We will test all current care home residents with coronavirus symptoms and all new care home residents who are discharged from hospital into care.

“Testing is key in our battle against coronavirus, and we will ensure that everyone in social care who needs a test can have a test.”