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Here’s a quick summary of how community health providers are working hand in glove with social care on #COVID19. With @NHSConfed, NHS Providers established the Community Network as their national voice, chaired by @CLCHAndrew. (1/10)
First, some context: years of cuts to local govt funding + 122,000 workforce shortages + no long-term reform/funding settlement = social care in precarious position before the #COVID19 pandemic (2/10)
@NHSConfed
@NHSConfed
There are huge challenges faced by social care, highlighted by recent the media focus on care homes and growing evidence that the number of #COVID19 deaths in the community - inc care homes - is likely higher than recorded and expected to rise (3/10) @NHSConfed
Community providers are supporting care homes and social care providers as much as possible with protective equipment, access to testing, staff support and training (4/10) @NHSConfed
Social care staff are working flat out and supporting community services by taking on additional roles, e.g. insulin administration and enhanced support for the most vulnerable (5/10) @NHSConfed
Care workers & vulnerable people they support are both at risk of exposure to the virus, but there are challenges around slow access to testing and the logistics of getting frail vulnerable people to testing centres. Welcome the news of new mobile testing units (6/10) @NHSConfed
There are ongoing challenges around PPE distribution to 50,000+ providers of community, primary and social care. Increased costs of PPE from usual suppliers risks tipping fragile providers over the edge. The delayed parallel supply chain needs to launch asap. (7/10) @NHSConfed
The national adult social care action plan is welcome. The ambitious target of 20k new recruits in the next 3 months is key as high numbers of staff are self-isolating. Concerns that #COVID19 funding for social care and third sector isn’t enough (8/10) @NHSConfed
As the NHS starts to look beyond initial peak, we need to expand community rehab and social care services to look after those recovering from #COVID19 and other conditions as planned care restarts and most vulnerable shielding for longer (9/10) @NHSConfed
NHS and social care are two sides of the same coin – a long-term funding solution and social care reform must be immediate priority for govt when the #COVID19 outbreak is over (10/10) @NHSConfed
