In response to the Prime Minister blaming care homes for their work during the pandemic, St Helens Borough Council Leader David Baines and Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care Marlene Quinn have issued the following statement:
Council Leader David Baines says: “The Prime Minister’s comments are disgusting. For months we clapped our carers, and now as soon as he thinks he can get away with it he has turned on them.
In addition to the immense pressure of the pandemic and its impact on their residents and our elderly population, because of the government’s failures our care homes have had to also cope with inadequate PPE, a complete failure on testing, and confusing guidelines issued by Mr Johnson and his colleagues.
All our carers, whether in care homes or domiciliary, paid or unpaid, deserve nothing less than our utmost respect and our sincere thanks, not to mention fair funding and fair pay. I want them to know that St Helens Borough Council values them and thanks them sincerely for their incredible efforts.”
Councillor Marlene Quinn, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, says: “I am absolutely disgusted that a British Prime Minister throws blame on our Care Home providers. An apology is needed now.
One of the country’s most important and irreplaceable strengths is our carers, both paid and unpaid. Residential and Nursing Homes serve, care, and protect the most vulnerable adult members of society, and have done this through the most challenging time this country has experienced since the Second World War.”