Care home company under investigation following multiple  COVID deaths, says UNISON

A major social care company has been reported to regulators after the deaths of multiple residents from COVID-19, says UNISON today (Thursday). The three homes in Sheffield, where the deaths occurred and are run by Horizon Care, are now under investigation by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after staff raised a catalogue of safety and hygiene concerns with UNISON. The union has written to the CQC outlining practices at Woodhill House, Woodhill Lodge and Woodhill Grange, which UNISON says breach safety guidelines for residents and staff. Issues highlighted to UNISON by employees include managers asking care workers with persistent coughs and staff who live with people infected with coronavirus to carry on coming in to work. Care employees sent 12-week isolation letters were told they could work as long as they did not carry out personal care duties, such as helping to wash residents. Other practices the union says are unsafe include failing to inform staff that residents they look after have suspected or confirmed COVID-19. In one case, a manager who had ‘better things to do’ refused to test residents despite one dying from the virus. Many workers in the three homes run by Horizon Care said they had no access to personal protection equipment (PPE) because kit has been locked away in an office. Some have resorted to bringing in their own antibacterial hand gel. UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said: “All employers have an obligation to protect...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release care homes Covid-19 CQC investigation Horizon Care PPE Source Type: news