Marie Curie responds to ADASS care home funding crisis report

ADASS report warns that care providers increased spending due to coronavirus (for example, on PPE, staffing costs and sickness cover) has exacerbated an existing funding crisis and means some private care providers may go out of business.

In response, Simon Jones, the Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said:

“We have known for some time the truly frightening numbers of people who have died in care homes with COVID19 and we continue to raise our concerns about the potential impact this has on the sustainability of the care home sector.  There are many stories of how caring and dedicated staff have been, including living in the homes themselves through the worst of the pandemic.  However, care homes are just not equipped to manage death on this scale.

“The ADASS report is yet another piece of evidence showing just how hard Covid-19 has hit the care home sector and how it is now threatening its very existence.  Long-standing funding issues already meant that many care homes were struggling to keep their heads above water.  

“The longer-term impact on care homes that this crisis is causing must be addressed urgently and appropriate funds made available if they are going to be able to meet the ongoing demands imposed by COVID19 and the needs of our ageing population in the years to come.”