Coronavirus: Government urged to ‘get a grip’ over reports of missing test results

The government has been told to “get a grip” of its nationwide testing programme following reports that Covid-19 tests provided to members of the public and care homes are regularly being lost.

People across the country have complained of waiting days or even weeks to receive their results, before being informed by the Covid helpline that authorities were unable to locate their test.

Separately, care home providers have said that entire bags of swabs have been lost following residential outbreaks, forcing staff and patients to retake their tests. 

Independent.co.uk

Sheffield care homes warned not to use Lateral Flow Tests after council voices doubts over accuracy

Care home providers have been warned not to use the government’s tests for COVID-19 known as Lateral Flow Tests (LFT) by Sheffield City Council.

Credit: Sodel Vladyslav/ Shutterstock

In an email to care home owners in Sheffield, the local authority said the LFT tests which can deliver a result within 15 minutes, had demonstrated an "unacceptably high risk" of not detecting the virus.

In an email Sara Storey, head of access and prevention at Sheffield City Council, wrote: 'We have recently been made aware that the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) are due to begin rolling out Lateral Flow Tests kits to care homes very soon.

Carehome.co.uk

Study examines link between high blood pressure in mid life and brain damage in the elderly - Alzheimer’s Society comment

A new study, part-funded by Alzheimer’s Society, being published on Thursday 26 November in the European Heart Journal, looks at the link between high blood pressure and more extensive brain damage among the elderly.

alzheimers.org.uk

Covid: Newport care nurse returned to work but nearly died

"I've been called a pandemic actor. I reply: 'I must be a good one as I let a doctor cut a hole in my throat'."

Jamie Branagan, 52, returned to care home nursing when the coronavirus pandemic broke out - but it was a decision that nearly cost him his life.

Mr Branagan spent a month in a coma and suffered a cardiac arrest, kidney failure and collapsed lung, after contracting Covid-19 himself.

BBC

Care home owner 'overwhelmed' with Covid pressures took his own life

A care home owner from Wrexham who was “overwhelmed” and "afraid of spreading" coronavirus to the residents tragically took his own life outside a police station, an inquest heard earlier this week.

Vernon Hough. Credit: Facebook

Vernon Hough, 61, was a director at Gwastad Hall Nursing Home, in Wrexham, which he ran with his wife Helen caring for 40 residents.

At the inquest in Ruthin, Mrs Hough said running the care home during the pandemic was "having an impact" on her husband.

Carehome.co.uk

Care England boss submits evidence in favour of social care people plan

Care England has submitted evidence to the government in favour of sustainable funding and a long-term plan for the social care workforce.

The representative body for independent adult social care providers has responded to a call for evidence on good practice on in-work progression from the Department of Work and Pensions.

The submission calls for the creation of a 10-year people plan, akin to that in the NHS, to support those who work in adult social care with a fair wage and substantial training and development.

Carehomeprofessional.com