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Care providers to receive extra £546m to protect against COVID-19 spread
The government has announced that it will nearly double the funding for its Infection Control Fund aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in care homes.
Care providers in England will receive £546m to help pay staff full wages when they are self-isolating, and allow employees to operate in only one care home, therefore reducing the risk of spreading infection.
The fund was set up in May with an initial budget of £600m and was due to end this month, but it has now been extended until March 2021 with the £546m.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “This new funding of over half a billion pounds will support not only care home residents, but also some of the most vulnerable in society living at home and in supported living.
“I know this will give peace of mind to so many, and we will set out further detail in our adult social care winter plan this week.”
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It comes after care providers in England were sent a letter by the government urging them to step up testing and PPE efforts after a reported increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in care homes.
A survey by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) also found that care and support providers remain concerned that a second wave of the pandemic could increase their usual winter challenges and put pressure on staffing and supplies.
Ian Hudspeth, chair of the Local Government Association’s community well-being board and leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This extra funding and regular testing of those who use and work in social care needs to be supported by addressing other important issues, such as ensuring everyone in the community who needs a test can receive one, together with a consistent, reliable supply of PPE for frontline staff.
“Taken together, this will help councils’ public health teams to reduce and prevent coronavirus outbreaks in their areas.
“Cross-party talks on finding a long-term, sustainable funding settlement for social care also need to start urgently.”
