A Southport care home owner says his industry and its carers have been fighting “a hidden battle with a hand tied behind our backs.”
Jonathan Cunningham MBE is the Registered Care Manager at Birkdale Park Nursing Home in Southport and is also the Chair of the North and South Sefton Care Home Group representing over 130 care homes across Sefton. The former British Army Major is also the founder of the Care Managers Inner Circle of 2,500 care managers across the UK.
Mr Cunningham now fears that social care homes could be devastated by a possible second deadly wave of coronavirus.
He said: “The Government’s recent direction has been confusing, contradictory and dangerous.
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“Scenes since the Prime Minister’s announcement of public complacency will result in a devastating, more deadly wave to hit our communities and specifically our carers looking after our most vulnerable.
“Regrettably, care homes will be on the front line of the fight.”
Jonathan has publicly voiced his disappointment over the lack of support for the care home sector, saying that “the recent announcement of £600million for infection control is an insult”.
He said: “Inadequate funding, lack of recognition and lack of sufficient equipment and PPE has meant that the care homes have fought a hidden battle with a hand tied behind our backs.” Many care homes across the UK have been decimated by this virus.
Jonathan said: “We are now faced with a double fight to keep our homes open. The impending wave of virus that we anticipate will remove our carers and kill our residents, and with multiple empty beds in our homes many care homes may be forced to close. We have never seen such a desperate situation.”
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