Doncaster care homes could struggle due to Covid deaths and fewer new arrivals
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Phil Holmes, director of adult social care, said numbers had decreased since March and further deaths could have a knock-on effect on their viability.
The borough's care home population stood at more than 1,000 last year, but is now down to 966.
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Hide AdMr Holmes also praised staff and management for their 'heroic' work throughout the pandemic.
“After the first wave of there were a number of deaths and from July to September, we had a reduced confidence of people coming in.
“One of the things we’re concerned about, especially after the second wave, is further deaths and a lower number still.
“For some care homes, they’ll be thinking if they don’t have more people it will be difficult to carry on."
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Hide AdAnswering a question from Thorne & Moorends councillor Mark Houlbrook on families seeing relatives in care homes, Mr Holmes said the council wanted to avoid a situation seen in other parts of the country where relatives had attempted to take a family member home for Christmas.
“My understanding from national guidance is people should not be going to relatives' houses for Christmas and there have been some difficult cases where it’s been very awkward for councils who were almost perceived as frogmarching people back into homes with the police.
“In relation to visiting, it’s very difficult for each care home and all are different. They are in a tough situation for them to be in and we try to support them as a council as they respond to Government guidance.”