£13 million pumped into Staffordshire care homes to fight coronavirus
More than £13 million has been invested into care homes in Staffordshire during the coronavirus crisis, council bosses say.
Emergency funding has been given to local authorities to try to help protect care homes, which have been devastated by Covid-19. Around half of daily deaths are now occurring in care homes.
Black Country councils were criticised last week by the West Midlands Care Association for not releasing cash to care homes quickly enough.
More people died in care homes than in hospitals in Staffordshire in the last week of April, figures by the Office of National Statistics showed, highlighting the scale of the emergency in care homes.
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But Staffordshire County Council, which covers a large area, said care homes had been supported.
Deputy leader and health boss Councillor Alan White said: "As a county council we have said from the start of this pandemic that we will do everything it takes and spend every pound necessary to help keep people safe, protect the vulnerable and support the care frontline.
“Our care homes and care providers are at the heart of this, and that is why we have not only been supporting them seven days a week, but have also invested £13.6 million to date to help them cover extra costs around staffing, care packages and purchasing personal protective equipment.
“We have also distributed 400,000 items of free PPE such as masks, gloves and aprons to ensure that absolutely no care home in Staffordshire is left without protective equipment.
“While as a county council we are committed to supporting them through this pandemic, I would also like to take the opportunity thank every member of staff on the health and care frontline in Staffordshire for the incredible work they are doing.”
