How well are care homes regulated?

[arcobob]

I heard some disturbing news this morning that a care home for the elderly in my village had currently 20 covid cases. Said home is part of a consortium that runs entirely with agency staff who move from one home to another. I cannot believe that this is possible.

 

[Lackey]

In my previous life, pre-Cumbria/farming I used to work for a council commissioning these type of services. From a councils point of view (at least the one I worked for) this would have been very much frowned upon and staff turnover was monitored through their annual visits - the grade they achieved due to these visits would impact the rate they were paid at and so it certainly wouldn't have benefitted an organisation to staff homes in that manner.
I've not been in that job for four years though and things do change, it also might not work with the local authority and so wouldn't have to worry about meeting their requirements, however I would think the care quality commission would have similar in their monitoring tool.

 

[Ashtree]

The biggest mistake made by ROI health authorities in this pandemic, was in underestimating the potential for the virus to spread in the care homes.
Yes, they locked them down early and prevented even families from visiting.
However it turned out agency nurses working in several care homes, became spreaders. Bingo, a lot of cases and a lot of deaths.