Coronavirus: Nine care home deaths in Melton area

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) statistics, which relate to deaths recorded between April 10 and May 1, also show that a total of 83 nursing home residents have died with the virus across Leicestershire, 25 of them in city care facilities.

More than 250 patients with Covid-19 have also now passed away at Leicestershire hospitals, the local NHS trust confirmed today (Thursday).

In relation to care home deaths in the county, Mike Sandys, director of public health at Leicestershire County Council, said there was optimism that the peak had been passed with a declining number recorded in recent days.

He told the Melton Times: “I remember over the Easter weekend when there was this outbreak in care homes in the county and we were getting two, three, four and up to five deaths a day of residents who had the virus.

“That was a worry but the one thing I am taking heart from is that those numbers are reducing now and we had none reported on Saturday, one on Sunday and only a couple yesterday.

“We are seeing what is happening nationally with the rate of increase in cases levelling off.”

Of those care home deaths of residents with coronavirus in rural Leicestershire, the largest figure recorded was 20 in the Charnwood district area, more than twice the number Melton has had.

Mr Sandys commented: “Melton has had a relatively smaller number of deaths in care homes probably because it has a relatively smaller population than some of the other districts in the county.”

There have been many stories in the media of a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health and care workers across the country but he said: “They were running short of supplies in Leicestershire care homes but we are in a slightly better position now. We are supporting them as a council with this along with the local resilience forum.”

Mr Sandys doesn’t expect restrictions banning all visitors at care homes to be lifted in the near future and urged people in the county to continue to follow government advice relating to social isolation.

“Most people are observing the social distancing regulations in Leicestershire but we’ve seen that the police have had to issue penalty notices to some people who have not been doing so,” he added.

“It does seem to be younger people who are not always observing the restrictions diligently and I would just to say to them that they must or they risk killing a grandparent or a parent if they pass on the virus.”

It is important to recognise that some of those in the CQC figures may have passed away in homes due to a serious underlying condition and then tested postive for Covid-19 after their death.

There are no figures available to show how many people died primarily as a result of contracting the virus.

Krishen Odedra, director at Egerton Lodge Residential Home, in Melton, said his staff had worked hard to keep everyone safe.

“We want to praise all our staff, residents and their families for the way they have dealt with all this,” he told the Melton Times.

“It’s difficult for everyone and of course a lot of our residents are frail and vulnerable.

“Visitors are not allowed but we’ve kept up alternative way of communicating with loved ones such as passing on letters and gift parcels.”

Mr Odedra said the home, which has around 40 residents living there at present, had sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees to wear.

“We have a stock of personal protective equipment and we are indebted to Gavin Howling and his family at Sysonby Knoll for donating some of the items they have been making to us,” he added.

At Scalford Court Care Home, which has about 50 residents, owner Jeremy Lord said they had furloughed some members of staff but there had been no problems obtaining sufficient PPE for employees who remain.

He told the Melton Times: “So far we have had no residents with Covid-19 symptoms and no staff with symptoms either and I am hoping it stays that way.”

The number of people with Covid-19 who have died in Leicestershire hospitals has now passed 250, the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust confirmed today (Thursday).

A spokesperson said: “Sadly, we can confirm that 256 patients being cared for at our hospitals, and who had tested positive for COVID-19, have died.

“Ten of those deaths have been announced today.

“The ages of the patients range between those in their 60s to those in their 90s.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of the patient at this very difficult and distressing time.”