Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, said:
“Following my calls for more action to protect older people living in care homes and care workers, and prevent the spread of Covid-19 in care homes, I welcome that the Welsh Government has provided some further details of the work it will undertake to address the concerns I have raised, particularly with regard to testing of residents and staff.
“However, further detail is still required across a number of areas to provide assurance that all of the action I have called for will be delivered quickly and effectively.
“I am also not yet fully assured that sufficient action is being taken to capture and publish meaningful data on the levels of infection and number of deaths in care homes, which is crucial for greater transparency and to paint a full picture of the impact of coronavirus, and to inform decisions about where and how resources should be allocated.
“I also remain concerned that the Welsh Government is yet to commit to publishing a specific action plan to clearly set out for the public what is being done, and what more needs to be done, and when this action will be delivered. This would allow us to constructively and responsibly hold the Welsh Government and Public Bodies to account for what they are doing.
“Without this published action plan, older people, their families and the wider public will continue to be anxious about what is happening in care homes. Questions will no doubt continue to be asked about whether the Welsh Government is taking the action that is needed, and whether enough is being done to protect and support all those who live and work in care homes.”
Read the Welsh Government’s response
