Coronavirus: anger over huge death toll in “abandoned” care homes - BBC News

There is growing anger over how coronavirus has taken hold in care homes across the UK. The government suggests that one in four of all coronavirus deaths in England have been in care homes.

The National Care Association says they feel "completely abandoned”. Others are questioning how quickly the extra £600m of funding for the care sector will get to those who need it.

Meanwhile teachers' unions are to meet the government's chief scientific advisers to seek reassurance about plans to partially reopen some of England's schools.

Some say they are concerned about the safety of staff and pupils.

Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reports from Social Affairs Correspondent Alison Holt and Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys.

[zzz]

All the money now ..will not bring back those old people who died...

[samcross]

There only worried now? Thank god i took my dad out of a crap nursing home he's safe and being well looked after by me x

[wewekokowe]

Shame on you who sent their parent to die in care homes!

[norasmith]

The people who own those homes make a lot of money why were they taking in new people which what’s going on ? Instead of looking out for the ones they had

[kurtfranklin]

What is a care home if not a place where the elderly are warehoused until death?

[cocos]

An american politician moved his mother to a hotel before the virus hit. Makes you think!

[SingleTrack]

These care homes are PRIVATELY owned ! The owners make millions and should have made sure they had adequate PPE . Blame the government

[unclebones]

Considering a large proportion of these residencies are private businesses not local authority run, how is it that central government is getting battered over subject like PPE, staffing and management decisions? Even the local authority establishments are just that local authority, so why aren't questions being asked to the right people?

These types of communities are going to be an inherant risk in terms of any illness being spread (food poisoning, normal annual flu etc) so why don't processes already exist for the Companies and authorities concerned?

This is just another example of the BBC jumping on the press bandwagon to hammer the Government for something that's not actually theirs to address.

[whynot]

Nobody noticed or cared that the poor souls in care homes were neglected for years. Profit before people, untrained or under-trained staff on low wages, homes allowed to continue trading, even when it is clear they're not fit for purpose. Influenza and norovirus have been ripping through care homes for decades, yet hardly a mention. The elderly have been abandoned by their families and by society but now, because it serves the media, this has been highlighted.

[ibraheemahmedahmed]

They should spend a day in a care home as a carer

[paulhoskin]

Put the MPs in care homes see how they like it

[RemusKingOfRome]

OLd people should NEVER have been put in dumping grounds in the first place .. It's a families responsibility to look after elderly members, not strangers in a strange place !!

[allahlovesyou]

"Deliberate murder" of the ones who sacrifised their lives in the service of the country...shame

[PeacfullSoul]

Schools should not be open it’s too early for that

[bongofrenzy]

the privatisation of the care 'industry' started in 1979 the same time Thatcher became prime minister...
It was an easy asset strip of state assets to be sold to friends of the conservative party for property speculation
and it also offloaded government responsibility to the private sector...
So privatisation.... how many dead because of that now?

[foxabilo]

You should be blaming China for this BBC, you seem complicit in this.

[longjohnsilver]

It cost a resident £1000 a WEEK for a room in a Nursing home....after selling your home which was paid for in 30 years mortgage...of £1, 50, 000. All gone in 3 years..😢😭🤒😷⚰

[CMDRiKnOwYoUrIpAdDrEsS]

Noone is abandoning you when their is nothing left to abandon..

[notmissingout]

A room in a care home can cost 600 pounds a week as they say your born with nothing and they want you to die with nothing

[huyiii]

Where's the money that was raised by the war veteran?