The BGS welcomes the findings of Module 6 of the COVID-19 inquiry focused on social care. The conclusions of the inquiry, highlighting the significant number of deaths in care homes and the lack of support for the social care sector, will not come as a surprise to the many BGS members who cared for older people during COVID.
We know the pandemic had a profound impact on the sector and that many families lost loved ones prematurely due to failures to adequately protect social care staff and the people they cared for. We urge the Government to implement the recommendations of the inquiry as quickly as possible to ensure that the sector is better prepared for any future pandemic. The COVID-19 Inquiry also highlights some systemic issues which we hope Baroness Casey’s independent review of social care will address. It is vital that reforms are enacted to ensure the sustainability of social care to meet the needs of an ageing population.
