A York MP says she is ‘deeply concerned’ by what’s been happening in some city care homes during the coronavirus crisis.
Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, said some homes have provided excellent care.
But, after talking to whistle-blowers, staff and relatives, she has called on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to investigate some of the care homes in York “due to poor care and practice taking place in care homes”.
Ms Maskell today (Thursday) called on leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg to allow a parliamentary debate on the issue.
She told him: “It is with deep sadness that my work over the last few weeks has exposed the significant risks of Covid-19 to those in care homes in York: no PPE; no family visits; no GP visits; no Care Quality Commission inspections; agency staff not knowing residents; and poor oversight by the local authority.
“This has exposed and exacerbated the risk to the most vulnerable members of our community, increasing infection and mortality.”
Mr Rees-Mogg responded by saying care home workers have “worked incredibly hard under very difficult circumstances”.
He added: “Considerable efforts have been made under difficult circumstances to help the people running care homes, who have done incredibly well under the most trying circumstances.”
Ms Maskell said she was very disappointed that the government didn’t prioritise the matter for debate “while far less pressing issues have been listed for debate over the last week before the summer recess”.