Tributes paid to care home staff during pandemic

LOCAL care homes have paid tribute to their staff for their dedication and tireless work during the pandemic.

It comes after news that 11 care home residents in Westbury died with Covid-19, according to figures published last month. 

The figures, released by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), show that between 10th April 2020 and 31st March 2021, Critchill Court recorded 5 deaths; Rowden House recorded 2 deaths; and Gracewell of Frome recorded 4 deaths. 

Overall, in Somerset, 416 care home residents died with the virus; and across England, more than 39,000 care home residents died with the virus in this period. 

The three Frome care homes have paid tribute to their staff, the lives that were lost and the families affected.  

A spokesperson for Gracewell of Frome said, “Our team at Gracewell of Frome worked tirelessly to protect residents from the pandemic. Sadly four residents did pass away since the pandemic began, and each is greatly missed by everyone associated with the home.  We have been in close contact with relatives throughout, and our thoughts remain with those who have lost their loved ones. We could not be more proud of the way in which our team responded to this pandemic. They have stood up tall to be counted during a time of immense national need.  

“Looking forward, and remaining vigilant, we are as best prepared as we possibly can be to continue to protect residents and team members, as we enjoy welcoming relatives back into our home.” 

Director of Care at Somerset Care – which manages Critchill Court and Rowden House – Nicola Kelly said, “All at Somerset Care are devastated at the loss of our much-loved residents due to Covid-19. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to their loved ones, friends, and all who are grieving their loss, including our own care teams who regarded them as family. 

“Despite strictly following national and local guidance, and receiving full assurance from our regulators that our teams were doing everything possible to keep our residents safe, we were ultimately unable to protect those we have lost from this dreadful virus, and that is something that we will always struggle to comprehend and accept. 

“Every number in the CQC’s report is a real person that was loved – a family member, a friend, a spouse, a parent or a grandparent. The statistics cannot tell of the impact of their loss on those who loved or cared for them, or the measures that were taken to try and protect them from the horrors of Covid-19. Our hearts go out to everyone who is grieving at this time.” 

This is the first time a breakdown of the numbers of people who died with Covid-19 in ‘large’ (50+ beds) or ‘medium’ (11-14 beds) care homes across England has been published. The data excludes care homes classed as ‘small’, which have 10 or fewer beds. The highest number of deaths in a single care home in Somerset was 41, recorded at a ‘large’ care home in Taunton. 

“It is important to note that death notifications do not in themselves indicate poor quality care,” said a spokesperson for the CQC, “particularly given the potential influence of variable factors, including rates of local community transmission, size of the care home, and the age and health and care needs of the people living there. Moreover, many notifications relate to the deaths of care home residents which occurred in other care settings.” 

“In considering this data it is important to remember that every number represents a life lost,” added the CQC’s chief inspector for adult social care, Kate Terroni, “and families, friends and those who cared for them who are having to face the sadness and consequences of their death.”