Care staff death rate a national scandal, says UNISON

Social care needs top-to-toe reform

Commenting on new figures from the Office for National Statistics published today (Friday) showing higher Covid-19 death rates for care workers, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“These figures reflect a tragic national scandal. The government has failed to protect social care during this pandemic and even now, these issues are far from being resolved.

“Care workers have financial pressures to work when they should be shielding or self-isolating. Protective kit is being used for longer than is safe and testing is still not happening.

“Social care needs reform from top to toe to fix the system for good.”

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 the public, voluntary and private sectors.
– UNISON has recently launched its vision for reform of the social care sector into a national care system. More details can be found here.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk