Responding to data published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics that show more than a thousand deaths in care homes and in the community were registered up to 10 April, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“This doubling in deaths is shocking evidence of the government’s shambolic handling of the Covid crisis.
“Staff working in care homes and those looking after people in the community have been massively let down. The ongoing lack of protective kit has left many terrified they’ll spread this deadly virus or become infected themselves.
“There’s still widespread confusion among workers and their employers over what equipment they should have. Some staff are being told off for wearing masks, while others can’t even get hold of hand sanitiser, according to reports still coming into UNISON’s PPE alert hotline.
“The government has got to get its act together if we are to prevent more lives being needlessly lost.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Sophie Goodchild M: 07767 325595 E: s.goodchild@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: l.chinchen@unison.co.uk
