Marie Curie response to the Government announcement of £546 million extra funding for care providers to help reduce transmission of Covid-19

Statement by Marie Curie Director of Policy and Public Affairs Simon Jones in response to the Government announcement of £546 million extra funding for care providers to help reduce transmission of Covid-19 this winter.

Simon Jones, Marie Curie Director of Policy and Public Affairs said: “It is vital that we avoid a further spike in coronavirus cases and deaths in care homes this winter.

“The additional funding announced by the government today is welcome; but it will do little to address many of the issues care homes are facing.

“Many care homes were already struggling financially before the crisis and are at risk of closing; without a sustainable funding model, today’s announcement risks becoming a short-term sticking plaster for the sector. We urgently need a long-term funding solution for care homes that gives long-term security to care homes and enables them to address chronic low pay in the sector.

“Additionally, while the fund will help care homes cover the cost of wages for staff who are isolating and reduce the need for staff to move between homes, it does nothing to address the particular challenge that care home environments were never designed to manage the spread of a virulent and deadly virus.”