The Carer Digital - Issue #11

T H E P U B L I C AT I O N F O R N U R S I N G A N D R E S I D E N T I A L C A R E H O M E S

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THECARERUK Issue 11

“Devastating” Covid-19 Impact on Social Care Reveals Report

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The Covid-19 crisis has driven increased demand and growing unmet social care needs due to providers not admitting referrals, diminishing services and service closures a survey directors of adult social services (ADASS) has revealed.

The report says the situation risks driving councils into making substantial budget cuts, predominantly to preventive services, unless the government increases support. Concerns were also raised about the government’s failure to plan for the pandemic’s impact on social care, which were evident in the drive to discharge rapidly thousands of patients from hospitals as the pandemic unfolded in March and April.

James Bullion, President of ADASS said: "The results of the survey paint a vivid picture of the devastating effect of COVID-19 upon millions of us. Those who have died prematurely, those who have had to grieve in isolation, those who have been discharged from hospital without the right assessment, those who have been unable to access community-based services, those who are isolated or shielding, those requiring safeguarding, those experiencing mental health or

addiction crises, those experiencing domestic violence, and/or exploitation, and those who work in adult social care.

"The Government must ensure that social care is never again left exposed to a pandemic. This starts by protecting those of us with care and support needs from the current and subsequent waves of COVID-19 and extends to ensuring social care is at the centre of all future emergency planning and preparation.

"Whilst the wider population may be moving out of the coronavirus peak, COVID-19 will be with older and disabled people for a very long time. Easing the lockdown is about more than opening doors it is about unlocking people’s lives – restoring care and support, assessing needs, preparing for the inevitable surge in demand for care and enabling us all to live our lives again. Learning the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government must seize the opportunity to reform and reset social care as part of the wider post COVID-19 recovery."

(Continued on page 3...)

PAGE 2 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

EDITOR'S VIEWPOINT Welcome to the eleventh edition of The Carer Digital! “The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else.�

CARSON MCCULLERS, THE SQUARE ROOT OF WONDERFUL Again, it is really pleasing to hear that the tragic death rate in the care sector (care and nursing homes) due to the coronavirus has fallen.

Each death is of course a painful reminder of the heartbreak coronavirus has brought to the world, and social care has been at the frontline pandemic began.

I said last week that I suspect the adult social care sector could become a “political football� when the pandemic subsides, and the public demands an explanation.

I truly hope this is not the case. I hope we have a more measured inquiry without scoring political points that will not Editor only investigate into how the pandemic unfolded and the damage it has done, but also an inquiry which will prepare us for the future, and make sure the same mistakes are not made again Our front-page story regarding a report by Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) has seized the initiative by stating that moving patients from hospitals to care homes at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, led to “tragic consequences “.

Furthermore, it said the impact of Covid-19 meant many care providers now face financial problems.

The ADASS report on the impact of the pandemic on care services is I understand based on a survey of 146 out of the 151 directors of social care in English councils.

They point to the problems caused by the rapid discharge of patients from hospitals into care homes in the first weeks of the pandemic.

I suspect this will be the focus of any inquiry, however I am getting a lot of feedback regarding the wider issue affecting social care. According to the Local Government Association their own commissioned research suggests that care providers will face extra costs of ÂŁ6.6 billion by the end of September this year, and yet the government has announced extra funding roughly about half of that.

We have here at THE CARER been as close as we possibly can these past weeks to the residential and nursing care sector in its battle the pandemic. Listening first-hand from observers all areas of the sector, and funding in particular in the coming months is of great concern.

I noted in the report that prior the coronavirus outbreak most ADASS directors said they were concerned about the financial viability of some providers and their ability to maintain their operations.

However, with the extra inevitable rising costs the pandemic has wrought, including, but not limited to PPE, staffing and with care home vacancies resulting from the pandemic, 25% of directors say they are worried about the ability of providers to survive.

7% say they are worried about the sustainability of all local care providers and are calling for the government to provide more funding to help stabilise the care system.

Funding has been the elephant in the room for many years. Certainly since as long as I have been editing this publication, which started in 2007!

Peter Adams

The sector, across all areas, has been at the coalface and has gone above and beyond its call of duty. It is certainly done its bit in helping minimise the truly tragic consequences which could have been significantly worse had it not been for the dedication of the staff, and, I have to say, many industry suppliers who have rallied round and supported the sector.

So, the government as well as the country owe the social care sector a great debt.

September is looming and action must be taken now to avoid another crisis!

On a separate note, we have been thrilled this past week to receive, yet again, many heart-warming, uplifting, and inspirational stories - so please keep them coming!

Once again I would draw your attention to our Unsung Hero award this issue please see page 15. No frills, no gimmicks, no fancy award ceremony - a straightforward no-nonsense recognition award for somebody in the sector from any department who deserves to be recognised for what they have done.

It isn’t much, I know, given the current circumstances, and how we wish we could award everybody!

So please get nominating! This lockdown is not going to last forever and the hotels will be open for business soon - a luxury two night break for two people in a choice of over 300 hotels awaits! - nominate@thecareruk.com Say hello to some of our previous winners:

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 3

“Devastating” Covid-19 Impact on Social Care Reveals Report (Continued from front cover) Amongst other things, the survey found that 53 per cent of Directors of Adult Social Services have seen an increase in people presenting to their council with adult social care needs as a result of carer breakdown, sickness or unavailability.

Also, 87 per cent of Directors said they are not confident about an adequate supply of or ability to access testing for unpaid carers.

Responding to the report, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “It is incredibly worrying that more than half of Directors of Adults Social Services have had people presenting with social care needs as a result of an unpaid carer they rely on not being able to support them.

“Unpaid carers are under intolerable pressure right now. The majority are providing even more care than usual which is taking a catastrophic toll on their physical and mental health. Tens of thousands of people are caring round the clock without the hope of a break and without any outside support.

“When Carers UK surveyed unpaid carers in April, 55 per cent said they felt overwhelmed managing their caring responsibilities and were worried about burning out in the weeks ahead. It is clear that caring without enough support is having a big impact on people and many are

struggling to carry on.

“During Carers Week, we have been shining a light on the experiences of carers and recognising their contribution during this pandemic. It is not right or fair that they have been left without sufficient support. It is absolutely vital that Government and local authorities do everything they can to support unpaid carers to look after their own health and wellbeing through the duration of this pandemic. Care and support services, which provide much needed respite, need to be reinstated as soon as it is safe to do so. Local government also needs adequate funding to ensure it can meet growing additional need.

“The Directors of Adult Social Services reported not being confident about unpaid carers’ ability to get Covid-19 testing. Being able to take a test is really important for some unpaid carers who need to move in and out of their homes to carry out their caring responsibilities and work.

There needs to be robust roll out and delivery so that unpaid carers are able to get tested if they need it.”

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Social care and its 1.6 million-strong workforce have risen to the unprecedented challenges caused by coronavirus and this report rightly recognises their contribution. Through their incredible efforts, they have

helped keep those who use these services safe and well during this extraordinary crisis.

“It is encouraging to see that prior to the outbreak, there were fewer care providers handing back contracts or closing, compared to the same period last year. But since the pandemic, extra costs due to PPE and staffing have clearly had a serious impact.

“Councils are doing all they can to support care providers in their areas but pressures clearly remain, with our own commissioned research suggesting that providers face extra costs of £6.6 billion by the end of September this year.

“As this report highlights, the pandemic has increased the level of unmet need which was already building up before coronavirus emerged.

This will need to be tackled both in the immediate and long-term future, to make sure people are able to live the life they want to lead.

“This report’s findings make for essential learning now, but also as we look ahead to winter when demand for care and support is expected to rise again.

“We look forward to working with the National COVID-19 Social Care Support Taskforce, to make sure local government’s experience and expertise is used to best effect in the ongoing implementation of the Government’s adult social care action plan.”

Hertfordshire Care Home Welcomes Call From Prime Minister Praising Role Of Staff During COVID-19 Crisis Staff at a Hertfordshire care home were delighted to receive a video call from the Prime Minister, where he personally thanked them for their efforts in protecting residents during the pandemic.

Wanting to personally commend frontline workers for their “unbelievably” hard work in these “incredibly tough times”, the Prime Minister joined staff at Foxholes Care Home, near Hitchin, via a Zoom video call.

Directly addressing staff at the family-run residential home, the Prime Minister said: “Thank you for everything you’ve been doing, I know it’s been an incredibly tough time. The work you have been doing has been of huge importance to this country. We were so worried about the epidemic in care homes, but you’ve managed to come through it, and you’ve got all your residents testing negative, and that’s a fantastic achievement.”

As has been the case for many of the 18,000 care homes across the UK, Foxholes has had to combat the virus, but by following the government’s guidance and maintaining a stable supply of PPE, all of its residents are now testing negative.

The Prime Minister also greeted residents, one of whom Shirley Saunders, had previously contracted coronavirus but has now made a full recovery. The Prime Minister congratulated Shirley on her recovery and joked that she was “a lot tougher” than he is.

Neil Gandecha, Estate Manager at Foxholes Care Home, said: “It was a pleasure to virtually welcome the Prime Minister into our home. He was very interested in hearing how we’ve been coping during the pandemic, and appeared genuinely thankful for the care we’re providing, having been someone who has experienced first-hand what the virus is like.”

Staff at Foxholes described the experience as “surreal” and “inspiring” to

receive personal recognition for their work. The Prime Minister even said he would drop by the home for a cup of tea next time he is in the area once lockdown has lifted, after sharing that he has visited Hitchin numerous times.

Usha Gandecha, Home Manager at Foxholes, said: “It was great to speak with the Prime Minister and share our experiences of the pandemic with him. I also wanted him to know about the amazing support we’ve had from our District Nurse teams, who have stood by us 24/7. All the visiting paramedics have gone above and beyond too.”

Number 10 Downing Street arranged the call having heard of the positive stories to come from the home during the crisis, which were relayed to them by the Department of Health and Social Care. One particular story which caught their interest was that of 83-year-old resident Alfred Lewis having the Grand National brought to him following the cancellation of the world-famous steeplechase. The home recreated the atmosphere of Aintree and aired the virtual event for Alfred, who was due to attend fist first-ever Grand National before the virus outbreak.

To keep up the morale during the crisis, Foxholes has also organised socially distanced musical performances and set up Facebook Portals around the home to ensure residents can interact with family and friends regularly in real-time.

Neil concluded: “It was very humbling to hear that the Prime Minister wanted to personally thank us for our efforts against coronavirus, and the call was something we certainly won’t forget in a hurry. None of our residents had ever spoken to a Prime Minister before. To receive such recognition for the work our staff are doing to protect our residents is incredible and it’s proven to be a real morale booster for everyone at the home.”

PAGE 4 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

HMRC VAT Case Highlights Challenges Facing Specialist Healthcare Providers, says Accountants Hillier Hopkins and dads.

“HMRC did not consider Window to the Womb to be a healthcare provider, meaning that it had to charge its customers VAT on the services it provides. Window to the Womb disagreed and took the case to Tribunal.

“The case hinged on whether there was a provision of care by a registered healthcare professional. If so, it would be exempt from VAT. If not, Window to the Womb products would be considered what HMRC calls general supplies with VAT charged at 20%.

“HMRC has long argued that sonographers are not on the list of medical professionals so cannot provide care that is exempt. However, most sonographers are also registered radiographers and sonography is, by its definition, a form of radiography. Window to the Womb and other clinics are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).”

The decision has significant implications for all pregnancy scanning clinics and highlights the challenges specialist healthcare service providers face with regards HMRC and VAT, as Ruth explains.

“Patient transport providers, for example, face the difference between

A VAT tribunal decision against HMRC highlights the challenges specialist health providers face in the daily treatment of VAT. The tribunal decision, which in this instance went against HMRC, will be of particular interest to pregnancy clinics, occupational health, daycare, and patient transport providers, says accountants Hillier Hopkins.

Ruth Corkin, A VAT Director at Hillier Hopkins and member of the VAT Practitioners Group advising Government and HMRC on VAT matters explains.

“The tribunal case was brought by Window to the Womb, a private 4D pregnancy scanning clinic that provides gender and foetal heath scanning together with pictures of unborn children for expecting mums

Are You Using the Correct PPE? market and masks being sold with invalid certification has led to many users, including even the NHS, ending up with inadequate masks at disproportionate prices.

WHO ARE WE?

Answering your questions on the type of mask to wear to reduce the risk of those you provide care for contracting Covid-19

THE CURRENT PROBLEM COVID 19 has led to a surge in demand for personal protective equipment throughout the UK, and in response, a multitude of UK businesses have established supply lines to try and fill this demand.

Unfortunately, although millions of masks are now being brought in, many provide little or no protection against COVID 19. The confusing amount of variations of masks combined with the lack of information in the

Our company is called HealthHealth (www.healthhealth.co.uk), due to the ongoing pandemic many businesses have had to purchase PPE for the first time, we have transformed our distribution model from wholesale to supply the end-user directly to prevent price gouging via intermediaries and ensure the user receives the correct masks for their intended use.

WHAT MASKS SHOULD I BE USING? The 2 main types of masks that provide protection against COVID 19 according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) are N95/KN95 masks and 3 Ply Surgical masks.

KN95 masks are 4/5 ply (layers) masks that come in two grades; FFP2 and FFP3. The WHO recommends these masks be used by those who are symptomatic and otherwise should be reserved for and used by those in the healthcare sector, particularly those in and around patients who are most susceptible to Covid-19. These masks should be tested

VAT being zero-rated and exempt, depending on whether HMRC believes them to be providing passenger or patient transport services. It is complex, as patient transport providers tend to offer both services.

“Occupational health providers, such as those companies made available to their staff, are seen by HMRC as simply providing advice with VAT chargeable. Yet may occupational health specialists are qualified healthcare professionals who offer traditional medical procedures, for example, blood pressure tests. Services should, therefore, be exempt.

“The provision of daycare in nursing and rest homes is often outsourced to specialist providers, yet HMRC considered those providers separate and unrelated to healthcare for VAT. Daycare providers and their customers quite naturally disagree, leading to often protracted discussions and tribunal cases.

“VAT is complex at the best of times. It becomes even more so when there is the provision of specialist care. Specialist care providers should seek support and advice from an accountant that has a deep understanding of the sector and issues at hand.”

to EN:149 standards by a PPE compliant non-voluntary body.

There are four types of medical-grade 3 Ply surgical masks; Type I, Type IR, Type II and Type IIR. Type I and Type II masks are not fluid-resistant and hence are not ideal for use during the ongoing pandemic.

Fluid resistance is the ability of a mask to catch the respiratory droplets discharged when a user coughs or sneezes. The WHO recommends fluid-resistant medical masks be worn by over 60s and those who have underlying health problems, as well as those who are in contact with these groups. Both masks have high fluid resistance and high breathability. The difference between the two is type IR has a bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) of >95% and type IIR has a BFE of >98%. Type IIR is therefore preferable to type IR, although both provide protection against COVID 19. These masks should be tested to EN:14683 standard by a PPE compliant non-voluntary body.

WHICH MASKS SHOULD I BE WARY OF? A surgical 3 Ply mask that does not fit into the above two categories cannot be classified as medical. Although they may provide some protection, they are not tested by the relevant standards to qualify them as either type IR or Type IIR, and are hence not appropriate for care workers.

Valve masks provide no protection for anyone but the user of the mask, they do not prevent respiratory droplets being emitted by the user, and are hence

not appropriate for care workers.

Reusable cloth masks lose their integrity with every wash, a study by the WHO shows them as significantly less effective than medical masks, and are hence not appropriate for care workers.

HOW DO I AUTHENTICATE A MASK I’M BEING SOLD? 1. Ask for a test report and a CE certificate/conformity and make sure the mask is tested to the aforementioned standards (EN:14683 for surgical masks and EN:149 for KN95 masks) 2.Verify the test report and the CE certificate on the website of the testing body on the certificate, most testing bodies will allow you to do this online automatically.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 5

Time to Look to the Future for Social Care

Care providers say the time is coming for the Government to start planning for the future of social care after coronavirus.

Whilst warning against complacency, the Independent Care Group says it is time to be looking ahead.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 564 people in England and Wales died in care and nursing homes from Covid-19 in the week up to 5th June. That is down from 705 the previous week.

Previous weeks saw 1,090, 1,660, 1,666, 2,423 and 2,800 deaths respectively.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “Today’s figures show once again that the trend is downward and we are moving in the right direction.

“We cannot be complacent and let coronavirus take hold again after we have all worked so extremely hard to get Covid-19 under control.

“At the same time, the moment is fast approaching where we have to start planning for reform of social care once coronavirus is behind us.

“We need a clear plan on how we can rebuild social care in the future, as years of neglect and under-funding for the sector have been brutally exposed by coronavirus.

The ICG has issued its wish list for care reform.

“We have long been promised a Green Paper on social care but it has been repeatedly delayed,” Mr Padgham added.

“The sources of the current problems are well documented, but almost £8bn cut from social care budgets since 2010 has left a sector on its knees, unable to deal with something like coronavirus.

“To ensure that never happens again, we have to have a root and branch reform of social care, matched by enough funding to bring it to parity with NHS healthcare, alongside which providers have been battling to defeat Covid-19.”

The ICG’s suggestions include: • A root and branch overhaul of the way social care is planned and funded • NHS health care and social care to be merged and managed either locally or nationally

• Extra funding for social care, funded by taxation or National Insurance • A guarantee that people receiving publicly-funded care can receive it in their own home or close to where they live • A commissioner for older people and those with Learning Disabilities in England • A properly-costed national rate for care fees linked to a national career pathway and salary framework for care staff • Dementia to be treated like other high profile, high priority illnesses, like cancer and heart disease • A fixed percentage of GDP to be spent on social care • A cap on social care costs, including ‘hotel’ charges • Local Enterprise Partnerships to prioritise social care • A national scheme to ensure people save for their own care, as they do for a pension • A new model of social care delivery based on catchment areas – like GPs • Social care businesses to be zero-rated for VAT so that they can claim it back, as other business sectors do • CQC to have much greater powers to oversee all commissioning practises such as per minute billing and 15minute visits • Less duplication of inspection between CQC and local authorities/clinical commissioning groups • Greater recognition of the role of the independent sector and utilisation of its expertise in the commissioning and delivery of social care • Guaranteed equal partnership working through seats on Health and Well Being Boards, CCGs and NHS • Giving providers and CQC greater flexibility in delivering services • Providing telemedicine incentives • Allowing nurses and social care staff from overseas to work in the U.K. including lowering the salary cap • More nurse training and bursaries to encourage recruitment and end the shortage of nurses • Long term measures to integrate older and younger people in care settings and change the perception of the generations • Investment in research and development into new models of social care delivery • Funding to help upgrade older care homes to maintain a range of choice for the public and investment in domiciliary care • Funding for leadership training.

In This Time of Crisis, Nominate YOUR Unsung Hero A 2 night luxury break for 2 people in a choice of over 300 hotels awaits the Summer Carer Unsung Hero!

Once again we here at The Carer are looking for an Unsung Hero!

To say that the healthcare /social care system has been under pressure recently would be stating the obvious, and we are all to aware of many thousands of Unsung Heroes at this time!

The current health crisis has highlighted all the hard work and dedication that those working in the sector deliver on a daily basis. There is no doubt that there are many heroes working in the social care sector and we are offering a chance to nominate yours - that person who has gone that extra mile and whose work deserves recognition.

Over the past couple of years we have invited residential and nursing care homes to nominate somebody in their home who they believe is that “Unsung Hero”.

Every care home will have somebody who goes that extra mile, and often receives little recognise or reward, and, over the past two years we have had

a phenomenal response to our Unsung Hero award, with some absolutely heartwarming and uplifting stories.

With the current health crisis we thought that it was only right that we should once again add to our Unsung Hero winners.

Once again we have have a fantastic luxury break for two in a choice of over 300 hotels for that lucky Unsung Hero winner.

No catches no rules no gimmicks, simply nominate somebody in your care environment who you think has done something you feel has made an impact and gone that extra mile and is worthy of a nomination.

They can be from any department, frontline care, laundry, maintenance, kitchen, administration we will leave that up to you.

We will be drawing a winner before the next print edition later in April, so please nominate with a short paragraph on why you are putting your nominee forward and send to:- nominate@thecareruk.com by Monday, July 6.

PAGE 6 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

How to Work How Technology is Helping Those with Learning Safely in Disabilities to Combat Loneliness in the Pandemic Care Homes

By Philippa Shirtcliffe, Head of Care Quality at Quality Compliance Systems (QCS)

Care England has welcomed the release of the updated Care Home and Domiciliary Care guidance albeit late in the day.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:“This updated guidance represents a great victory for the sector as it includes much needed bespoke advice for learning disability and/or autism care providers. It has been a long time coming, but is of course welcome”.

How to work safely in care homes and Personal protective equipment (PPE) – resource for care workers delivering homecare (domiciliary care) during sustained COVID-19 transmission in the UK were published on 16 June https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_d ata/file/892466/How_to_work_safely_in_care_ho mes_v3_15_Jun.pdf They provide guidance on the use of PPE for care workers and domiciliary care workers during the current period of sustained COVID-19 transmission in the UK. The guidance explains how PPE guidance applies to care home setting and is drawn from full infection prevention and control and PPE guidance.

Martin Green continues:“Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the concerns articulated by those who support individuals with a learning disability and/or autism have been largely overlooked by statutory bodies. It is vitally important to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable people in society are heard and addressed. In future we hope and expect that guidance will be co-produced in order to adequately meet the needs of both providers and those who they support and furthermore that there will be an acknowledgement of the necessary resources”.

The last few months have been challenging for many, but for the 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability, the lockdown has been an extremely difficult time. According to Mencap, it has left many feeling isolated. Take the 21,000 plus people with a learning disability that live in Registered Care homes for example. Social distancing restrictions have meant that they have not been able to physically meet their loved ones.

But in Learning Disability Week, or any other week for that matter, an enforced government lockdown shouldn’t mean that this vulnerable group are struggling to stay in contact with friends and family.

At Quality Compliance Systems, a provider of bespoke policies and procedures for the care sector, we have produced two policies – both of which have been constantly reviewed during the lockdown – that highlight best practice in this area.

‘The Accessible Information Standards Policy’ and ‘The Service Users with Communication Difficulties Protocol’ stress that providers need to find a way to communicate effectively – whether that is digitally or using communication aids.

They also emphasise that the care and rights of those with learning disabilities shouldn't be negatively impacted by the inability to communicate effectively and share their thoughts, views and wishes.

As Head of Care Quality at QCS, I can say that the policies, which have been accessed by 86,000 customers - including Heart of England Mencap - have been widely used. Not only do the policies provide guidance, they also highlight examples of best practice gathered from a range of organisations such as NICE and PHE, and partner organisations including Skills for Care, the National Care Association (NCA), the National Care Forum (NCF), Mencap and a host of others.

But what does best practice look like in this area? For Liz Jones, Director of Policy at the NCF, technology “has proved to be vitally important in keeping people with learning disabilities in touch”. “We know from examples from members - such as the Brandon Trust – that video conferencing technology such as Zoom, and communication platforms like Skype and Facebook have helped families stay in close contact.”

Mencap agrees that technology has aided many people with a learning disability to stay connected during lockdown. Projects run by Mencap, like Gig Buddies which bring young people with and without a learning disability together, have adapted to lockdown by holding online virtual socials so buddies and volunteers can stay in touch.

Since lockdown, Gig Buddies has gone online and is now organising online socials with quizzes and singalongs. Mencap has also launched Mencap TV, a series of fun how-to videos, like how to cook, stay fit or dance, which helps people with a learning disability share their interests with others and try something

new.

Future Directions, which supports around 350 people with learning disabilities, has also used technology to bridge the communication gap. Jenny Neville, a project manager for the organisation, says, “Group video calls, one-to-one video calls and phone calls have really helped those we support to stay in touch with friends and family, as have social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.”

However, Jenny Neville says that while technology is the future we shouldn’t discount “old-fashioned methods of communication - such as writing a letter or drawing”. To mark Loneliness Awareness Week, the Loneliness Minister, Baroness Barran, has urged the public to write a letter or a postcard to vulnerable groups still in lockdown. So a good idea?

“Yes,” says Jenny, “Letter writing is a person-centred activity. It really helps to alleviate stress in those with learning disabilities. Letters provide a wonderful sense of satisfaction to both the sender and the recipient. Often, they touch people in a way that digital communication cannot.”

Sadly, according to Mencap, some people with a learning disability struggle to access digital tools. It can also be a challenge if people with a learning disability are supported by older carers who struggle with technology. It is a challenge recognised by Person Centred Software, a partner of the NCF. To increase digital interaction, it has made its Relatives Gateway platform, free to all care homes during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Liz Jones says, “The Relatives Gateway is a really valuable platform to help families to keep in touch, offering a daily way to connect and it’s brilliant to see that PCS have offered this to all care homes for free during COVID.” But the reality is that, even if technology is provided, there are still families that fall through the gaps. While there are no figures revealing the true extent of digital exclusion, the problem isn’t just a lack of access to technology, but the fact that those with learning disabilities often need support to fully utilise it.

At QCS, we understand how empowering technology can be, and also how not being able to utilise it, can be life-limiting. As part of our Accessible Information Standards policy, we’ve created a series of easy-to-follow guides, which show care staff how to use video conferencing platforms and social networking services safely and effectively. This allows care workers to teach, supervise and support those with learning disabilities to get the most out of digital technology.

It is extremely encouraging to know that many organisations also recognise the need to improve technology skills in the sector. In the future, if everyone, including the government and local authorities, play their part, the quality of life and emotional wellbeing of those living with learning disabilities will be greatly enhanced.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES QCS coronavirus hub: https://www.qcs.co.uk/coronavirus-updates/ CQC coronavirus information: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/all-services/coronavirus-covid-19pandemic-information-providers

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 7

Care Home Residents “Clobbered With A ‘Coronavirus Bill’ Age UK says that while arguments continue over care funding during the pandemic, it is older people and their families who are picking up the tab As if they haven’t already suffered enough, some older people who fund their own care home fees and their families are now telling Age UK that they are being forced to pay a steep and unexpected ‘Coronavirus bill’ by their care provider.

In the last few weeks the Charity has been contacted by older people who are being asked by the management to stump up more than £100 a week on top of their usual care home fees, as PPE and the cost of covering staff absences push the finances of some care homes into the red, threatening their sustainability.

There is no doubt that care providers have been faced with significant challenges in trying to stop coronavirus spreading, with 39% of all care homes – or more than 6000 in England reporting an outbreak. Many are now facing additional costs as a result of this. Reports suggest costs are mounting to more than 30% higher than usual, and that as many as 20,000 care homes may go out of business without urgent additional support.

The Government allocated £1.6bill to councils on 28th April and set up a £600 mill Infection Control Fund on 15th May to help them meet the extra costs of the pandemic, and at the time it was suggested that much of this would and should be passed on to care providers in their areas. However, there have been complaints from some care homes that their council has failed to pass on the cash, leaving them to struggle to meet the additional costs they face alone. To be fair, there is no doubt that many councils are struggling financially too, with suggestions that some are at risk of serious financial issues unless they receive additional Government funding soon.

This situation has rumbled on for weeks now, all the while more than 16,000 care homes residents have tragically lost their life to coronavirus and the sector has seen more than double the usual number of deaths being reported in care homes.

As the arguments go on about how much public cash is available to support social care through the pandemic, and on what it can be spent, it seems that some care homes are taking matters into their own hands and presenting their self-funding residents with a new and unexpected ‘Coronavirus bill’.

The Charity can confirm that some care home residents are being asked to pay an excess charge of 15% on top of already high fees. This amounts to an extra bill of £127.65 for the average person in England who pays for their own care home, on top of their usual average fees of £851 a week – although we know for many this weekly fee is far higher.

We understand that ‘Coronavirus bills’ are being levied by some care homes due to:

• the rapidly increasing costs of purchasing PPE • rising wage bills from covering Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and backfilling absent staff with more expensive agency staff • the need for them to meet the planned increase in the living wage, which Government introduced without giving care providers any extra money with which to pay for it.

As years of underfunding have meant the provision of State funded care has failed to keep up with the needs of our ageing population, the majority of older people living in care homes in England now have to pay for their own care. Recent estimates suggest there are around 400,000 people living in care homes in England, of whom 167,000 are self-funders and an additional 45,000 are part self-funders.

It is well established that these ‘self-funding’ care home residents are already paying a huge cross-subsidy in the form of higher fees, to prop up the woefully under resourced State system. On average, someone who pays for their own care home place is charged 41% more by the management compared to what the State (local council) has to find, for an identical service. This has been widely criticised as a ‘stealth tax’ on older people who are often by no means affluent themselves, but who do not qualify for the tightly means-tested State system.

70% of older people living in care homes have dementia or some other form of cognitive decline.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity director at Age UK said: “Older people living in care homes and their families have been through the mill these last few months as the virus has ripped through one in three of these settings, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. It is adding insult to injury that after going through so much, some residents who pay for their own care are now facing a big extra bill – on top of already expensive fees.”

“Where care homes face extra costs on account of the pandemic it’s only fair that central Government ensures they are met – otherwise there’s a risk that some homes could fold, leaving their residents homeless.

This would be bad enough at the best of times, let alone now when the virus continues to pose a threat, making it safest for everyone to stay put.”

“The fact that older people who pay for their own care home place routinely have to stump up more than 40% on top of what the State has to find is a long-running scandal, but these ‘Coronavirus bills’ make the injustice even worse. They should be outlawed and care homes under acute financial pressure given the emergency Government funding they need.”

Royal Star & Garter Celebrates World Music Day The power of music and its healing effects are being celebrated by Royal Star & Garter ahead of World Music Day on 21 June.

Despite issues caused by the pandemic, the charity will be celebrating the importance of music in its Homes through videos and photos and sharing the thoughts of people who sing and play for the residents.

Music plays a vital role in the care provided at Royal Star & Garter’s Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe. The charity provides loving compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

Music is carefully chosen and wide-ranging to reflect residents’ choices. The range of activities which involve music such as Music Club, Star & Garter Singers and Movement to Music reflect its significance.

It is especially important in the care of people living with dementia, where research shows it helps to

lessen anxiety and depression and can become a communication tool when a resident’s speech fails. It is also thought that music and rhythm can remain with someone long into their journey with dementia.

This is backed-up by Musical Therapist Izzy Swinhoe-Standen, who works with residents at the High Wycombe Home. In her blog for Royal Star & Garter, she says: “Music and song invoke memories and emotions when nothing else can.”

Also writing a blog is singer and Health Care Assistant Jodie Halls. Her first experience with the charity occurred when she came to the Surbiton Home to perform to residents living with dementia. Jodie was so impressed with the love, warmth and care she saw that within months she was working at the Home. She said: “I often sing to the residents when I’m caring for them. There’s one resident who enjoys jazz and I enjoy singing Sinatra. He loves it when I start singing to him. He knows the words and joins in, and it’s so lovely to share that moment with him. It’s pure joy.”

PAGE 8 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

How Online Physiotherapy Can Help In The Rehabilitation Of Covid 19 Survivors

By Katie Knapton, Founder of PFO (Physiofastonline.co.uk)

The vital role of physiotherapists in treating patients with COVID 19 has been well publicised with life saving techniques supporting the fight against this deadly virus. However, patients who have recovered from coronavirus may well have a wide range of needs in terms of rehabilitation, especially if they are elderly or with an underlying health condition.

Patients who were treated in the ICU will most likely be affected by muscle weakness associated with rapid early muscle mass loss (up to 20%), which worsens in the presence of multi-organ failure.

Physical weakness may well also occur in those not admitted to critical care as a result of deconditioning and this is particularly apparent in the frail and pre-frail population. Spending time is bed, not moving, can also result in a significant decline in muscle mass and strength and this has been linked to falls, functional decline, increased frailty and immobility, all of which increases the risk of pressure ulcers and subsequent infection.

This needs to be addressed and online physiotherapy or ‘telerehabilitation’ can play a key role here as face to face appointments are not currently possible during the lockdown.

Online physio services also address the issues of travel distance and lack of care resources which can be a frequent barrier to accessing care. For many patients, it is also convenient, particularly if fatigue is an issue which is a key feature of Covid 19 along with breathlessness. With this in mind tolerance to exercise will need to be in short bursts, paced to individual needs and take place several times a day. Resilience building this

will need to be at their own pace and will benefit from support to progress to self-management.

There is no doubt that regaining mobility and balance to its former level must be a priority for rehabilitation as figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents show that in 2016-17 there were 316,669 hospital admissions in England of people aged 65 and over because of falling – the equivalent of more than 867 each day across the country.

This could involve a variety of bed-based exercises to increase joint mobility and strength, to chair exercises, to standing which will include balance work and repetitive more advanced exercises. If breathlessness is an issue then some breathing exercises will need to be given. Pacing is essential and patients must be encouraged to listen to their body - it is after all a marathon not a sprint.

Movement is key to fully recovering and patients will need to be encouraged to engage in a rehab programme and gently increase activity levels and set goals. My advice to them, their carers and their family is to be patient and keep positive. It may well be slow progress but remember any extra activity is good, but it will feel like an uphill battle sometimes and this is totally normal. It is understandable that patients will feel low but this too will improve. Other things to consider are nutrition, ensuring a healthy and varied diet although it is not unusual for appetites to be small. Finally remember that sleep is a great healer and plenty of rest is required following any sort of viral infection.

Finally, the current UK government advice for vulnerable people and the elderly is still to stay at home as much as possible and this advice is unlikely to change in the near future. With this in mind online treatments may well become part of the ‘new normal’.

PFO offers interactive videocall appointments with a qualified Physiotherapist. The service is available for individuals and businesses and enables specialist practitioners to provide expert assessment, advice, reassurance and management for any musculoskeletal disorder, disease, injury or query.

Helping Care Home Residents to Stay Connected from a Distance Adherence to social distancing, getting used to a new routine, and other disruptions associated with lockdown present a unique set of challenges for those living in care homes. Maintaining strong social relationships with friends and family has never been more important. Seeing a loved one’s face as well as hearing their voice can help an older person to feel connected from a distance.

As part of their commitment to helping the wider community, AYMES International (a market-leading manufacturer of delicious and cost-effective oral nutrition supplements) are delighted to announce they have a number of Facebook Portals to give to Care Homes in the UK. A Facebook Portal is a simple video-calling device that sits on a desk or table with a camera that follows as you walk around. It allows people to talk to others completely hands-free while doing other things. It’s an ideal way for older people to stay in touch with others and feel loved, supported and connected.

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If you work in a Care Home and have residents who would benefit from a Facebook Portal, please email: marketing@aymes.com to claim one of 30 Facebook Portals. The first 30 to be drawn by 07.07.20 who have told us why their care home would like one, will each receive a Facebook Portal.

For more information on AYMES International, please visit: https://aymes.com/ Terms and Conditions There are 30 Facebook Portals to be claimed. 2. All applications must be received by the closing date 30.06.20. 3. No Purchase Necessary 4. Facebook Portals can be claimed by any member of staff working in a UK Carehome. 5. A maximum of one Facebook Portal will be available to be claimed per care home.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 9

Local Authorities Across England Receive Funding to Support New Test and Trace Service Local authorities across England have been allocated a share of £300 million to support the new Test and Trace service.

Local authorities are central to the new NHS Test and Trace service, and each upper tier local authority has now been awarded funding to develop tailored outbreak control plans, working with the service, their local NHS and other stakeholders.

Work on local outbreak control plans has already begun, focusing on identifying and containing potential outbreaks in communal areas such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools. Local authorities will also need to ensure testing capacity is deployed effectively to high-risk locations.

Funding has been allocated to councils based on need, with additional funding provided for communities with lower incomes and higher demand for local healthcare settings.

Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health, Nadine Dorries, said: “Local authorities play a vital role in the effort to contain COVID-19 in their communities. The funding awarded today will help each local area work hand in hand Public Health England and contact tracers to focus on the containment of local outbreaks, to control the transmission of this virus.

“The public response to the rollout of NHS Test and Trace has been fantastic, and we continue to rely on everyone to play their part and follow the latest guidelines. If you have symptoms of the virus, please book a test immediately and if you are contacted by the tracing service, it is vital that you follow their advice.”

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Simon Clarke, said: “Councils are playing a hugely important role in our national efforts to respond to the virus, and this includes test and trace services.

“This £300 million of funding is on top of the unprecedented £3.2 billion package

of support we have provided to councils to ensure they have what they need to tackle the virus and respond to the immediate pressures they have told us they are facing.”

Work is being led by local authority leaders and local directors of public health in charge of planning, and will build on existing efforts to respond to coronavirus locally. They are working in close partnership with local hospitals, GP practices, businesses, religious groups, schools and charities.

Data on the spread of the virus will be shared with local authorities through the Joint Biosecurity Centre to inform local outbreak planning, so teams understand how the virus is moving. Local communities, organisations and individuals are now being encouraged to follow government guidance and assist those self-isolating in their area who need help. This will include encouraging neighbours to offer support, alongside identifying and working with relevant community groups.

National Test and Trace Adviser and Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, Tom Riordan, said: “Communities and local authorities must be at the heart of NHS Test and Trace. Their work to respond to the virus has already been exemplary, and demonstrates exactly how we have all come together to respond to the virus.

“The funding allocated today will support the joint endeavour between NHS Test and Trace, local government, and local partners to stop the spread of the virus. It will help to reduce the risk of widespread outbreaks in our schools, businesses, hospitals and communities.”

A new National Local Government Advisory Board has been established to work with NHS Test and Trace. This will include sharing best practice between communities across the country.

Work to share lessons learned is being led by a group of 11 local authorities from the breadth of the UK, representing rural and urban areas, who have volunteered to help localise planning.

From Charity Walks to VE Day Celebrations: Lockdown Highlights at Sunrise of Esher The team at Sunrise of Esher have tried to ensure residents are entertained, happy and positive throughout the UK lockdown, especially as they are unable to host many of their regular events and activities.

Residents at the care home have been playing socially distanced active games, including giant charades and badminton. They have also enjoyed seed sewing, watching their tomatoes, sunflowers, and sweet peas grow.

The team have ensured residents can stay in contact with the outside world. They have received lovely letters from staff and pupils from Reed’s School and postcards through Age UK’s ‘Postcards for Kindness’ Initiative. The care home has also utilised technology, teaching residents how to stay in contact with their loved ones virtually via video call and email.

Sunrise of Esher residents look forward to the popular Thursday evening drinks at the care home. Weather permitting, this is usually held outside with a singalong followed by a clap for key workers at 8pm.

The Sunrise of Esher Rainbow Walk competition was originally started to encourage residents to go outside and enjoy walking laps of the garden while soaking up the lovely weather. This initiative proved so popular the team started a fundraising page to raise money for the Sunrise Good Samaritan Fund. The Sunrise Good Samaritan Fund (SGF) was established in 2002 by the founders of Sunrise Senior Living. It has been created to

help team members of Sunrise Senior Living and Gracewell Healthcare who are suffering severe financial hardship resulting from a catastrophic event in their lives.

Sunrise of Esher have raised over £1,100 from their Rainbow Walk. Diana Stagg was the winner for the most laps walked in April, and Alma Bridge was the winner for May. The care home will continue this initiative as residents enjoy it and it raises money for such an important cause.

Sunrise of Esher also celebrated Captain Tom Moore’s 100th birthday and VE day 75.

The residents had a wonderful evening playing games, sharing stories, and singing along to the piano played by team member Michele Farrow.

Diana Stagg, Resident at Sunrise of Esher said: “The team did a marvellous job. It is the best party I had ever been to!”

Sophie Hagger, Activities and Volunteer Coordinator at Sunrise of Esher said: “We are delighted we have been able to keep the atmosphere at the home so positive throughout lockdown. This is thanks to the amazing residents and the team. We have ensured everyone has stayed busy and continued to do the things they enjoy. We look forward to welcoming visitors again in the future!”

To donate to Sunrise of Esher’s Rainbow Walk visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sunriseofesher?utm_term=e2DdnM3bw

PAGE 10 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

The Future of Skills in Care Homes

By Emma Platt, Divisional Manager at WR Health (www.whiterecruitment.com/disciplines/health-and-social-care) It’s no secret that care homes have been slow to adapt to technological changes for a variety of reasons. But digital had begun to make its mark in the sector prior to Covid-19, and the outbreak has increased some demand in homes for IT integration in parts of the role. So just what impact has digital had on skills and what are care homes looking for in their staff today?

THE PROGRESSION OF DIGITAL There has certainly been a move, albeit small, towards greater digital integration in care homes. We’ve seen some embrace the likes of iPads or other tablets to manage digital care plans, rather than sticking with the paper versions. More recently, the likes of digital MAR sheets have been introduced in some homes to better manage and monitor the administration of medicine for residents. With these potentially making a carer’s job safer and eliminating some of the human error element – particularly for larger homes with a limited number of staff available to carry out medicine rounds – the likes of digital MAR sheets have cer-

tainly been welcome. They have, however, led to a need for training for carers and any further tools like this will require further staff development to work well.

While some of these new tools have been designed with resident care and streamlined administration processes for staff in mind, introducing these into homes has been the biggest barrier, and there’s a number of reasons why progress has been, and will continue to be, slow. Aside from the fact that few establishments have WiFi available across the entire facility, there has been a general reluctance across more seasoned carers to move away from the more traditional paper processes that have worked for them in the past. And given that social care is heavily driven by the NHS which, due to the sheer size of it, is behind in digital adaptions, we’re unlikely to see any major tech changes impact carers in the immediate future.

THE IMPACT ON SKILLS While digital progress has been slow to date for understandable reasons, we’ve definitely seen an increase in employers seeking staff that are competent with IT and basic technology to be able to utilise the tools they have in the care home. There is, of course, training available for staff, but the growing number of employers seeking individuals that already possess these skills indicates a move towards hiring those that already have experience, so any professionals with this on their CV will

find themselves in high demand.

It’s not just the homes themselves that are driving a change in skills requirements, though. Residents are also having an impact. We’re seeing more patients turning to care home staff to help them stay in touch with their loved ones online. While Covid-19 has sped this up slightly, it has been a growing trend that carers have had to adapt to.

And with the complications surrounding co-ordinating live video calls for 70+ patients and their loved ones with limited internet access, more staff have had to turn to social media to keep families up to date by sharing videos and acting as the mediator of online messages. Whether or not this will continue post-Covid remains to be seen, but it’s certainly brought the technology discussion to the table.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? While technology hasn’t necessarily sped up skills changes in the operational side of care homes, it still remains a part of the gradual evolution that we’re seeing in the profession. We know that anyone with digital knowledge will be highly sought after, so those looking to progress their career will certainly stand out if they have undergone some form of training in this area. If the track and trace system that the government has been promising for so long is implemented without a glitch, we might see a greater shift in reliance of technology, but for now at least, we expect to see progression continue at the same pace.

World-First Scheme Underway to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance and Protect UK Patients A pioneering scheme to provide new antibiotics to NHS patients by offering to pay pharmaceutical companies upfront for their work will start this week.

The NHS is offering two contracts to pay pharmaceutical companies at the start of their work for access to innovative antibiotics, incentivising them to bring new classes of the drugs to patients across the UK for the first time in almost 30 years.

Of particular interest are antibiotics that can provide alternative treatment options for serious infections, such as bloodstream infections, sepsis and hospital-acquired pneumonia.

The high cost and low returns associated with antibiotic research and development makes it commercially unattractive. This is why the drugs will be paid for by the world’s first ‘subscription-style’ payment model for antibiotics and will be made available to UK patients as soon as possible, potentially as early as 2022.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The incredible discovery of antibiotics nearly 100 years ago transformed the health of our nation and our ability to combat infections.

Diseases that were once a death sentence are now treated in just one small step.

“But resistance to antibiotics is increasing and it’s imperative we take

urgent action on a national and global scale to protect future generations.

“This new way of buying antibiotics for patients in the NHS breaks down restrictive barriers to offer companies a vital springboard to foster innovation and develop potentially life-saving new products.”

Professor Dame Sally Davies, UK Special Envoy on antimicrobial resistance, said: “Antibiotics underpin modern medicine and are integral for global health security. Governments and industry must work together to produce new antibiotics and ensure that we can continue to treat common diseases.

“The UK is leading the way by encouraging companies to produce new antibiotics to stay one step ahead of life-threatening diseases.”

The payment model, which was launched in July 2019, will pay pharmaceutical companies upfront for access to their antibiotic product, based on a product’s value to the NHS, rather than how much is used.

This aims to incentivise companies to invest in researching and developing new antibiotics, helping secure much-needed alternative treatment options for NHS patients.

Two drugs that have proven to be both safe and effective will be selected to undergo health technology assessment (HTA) by the

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) throughout 2021 using adapted methods for antimicrobials. The HTA will be used to decide the level of the subscription payment.

From this week, suppliers can register their interest for the scheme on NHS England’s eTendering Service.

The UK is at the very forefront of the global fight against antimicrobial resistance, launching its 5-year national action plan in 2019 and setting out its vision for antimicrobial resistance to be contained and controlled by 2040. Yet, tackling antimicrobial resistance will require a global effort and the government is today calling for other countries to offer similar incentives in their own domestic markets.

Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director, NHS England said: “Staff across the NHS are already working with patients to ensure the antibiotics we have are used in the right way at the right time, and this new scheme is further important progress to develop new, lifesaving antimicrobial medicines.

“People’s lives depend on us having effective antibiotics and steps like this further reinforce how the NHS is leading the way in efforts to safeguard against the rise of superbugs.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 11

Lockdown Gains Must Be Sustained to Prevent Even More Loss of Life

Responding to the latest COVID-19 mortality figures for England and Wales, published by the ONS, Dr Layla McCay, a director at the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, said: “These figures are continuing to move in the right direction, and that is good news. What this demonstrates is that lockdown measures have had an impact – and that this impact must be sustained in order to avoid even more loss of life and to protect the NHS and care services upon which our communities rely.

“It is clear that we are at a delicate stage that needs to be managed carefully: rushing to remove lockdown restrictions before we are ready could risk us ending up in an even worse position than at the beginning of the crisis.

“Our members are clear that we need a fully operational test and

trace programme, as well as a guarantee that PPE supplies will be available wherever and whenever they are needed, especially as routine care restarts.”

Key points from the data: • The number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 29 May 2020 (Week 22) was 9,824; this was 2,464 fewer than in Week 21, but 20.2% (1,653 deaths) higher than the five-year average.

• Of the deaths registered in Week 22, 1,822 mentioned COVID-19, the lowest number of deaths involving COVID-19 in the last eight weeks; this accounts for 18.5% of all deaths and is 767 deaths fewer than in Week 21.

• The proportion of all hospital deaths that involved COVID-19 increased to 55.1% in Week 22 (compared with 51.0% in Week 21) but the proportion of deaths occurring in care homes decreased (from 42.1% in Week 21 to 38.7% in Week 22).

• In Week 22, the proportion of deaths occurring in care homes decreased to 25.5% while deaths involving COVID-19 as a percentage of all deaths in care homes decreased to 28.2%.

• Of all deaths involving COVID-19 registered up to Week 22, 63.9% (29,227 deaths) occurred in hospital with the remainder mainly occurring in care homes (29.4% – 13,460 deaths), private homes (4.5% – 2,070 deaths) and hospices (1.3% – 612 deaths).

• The number of deaths mentioning “Influenza and Pneumonia” on the death certificate (without COVID-19) decreased from 1,066 in Week 21 to 911 in Week 22 and remained below the five-year average.

• The number of deaths that mentioned both “Influenza and Pneumonia” and COVID-19 on the death certificate also decreased to 700, compared with 910 deaths in Week 21.

Carers from Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource Create Cover Version of Song by Yorkshire Entrepreneur A song penned by a Yorkshire serial entrepreneur and philanthropist during lockdown has helped raise over £10k for the Carers Trust’s Emergency fund to support unpaid carers in the UK during the current pandemic. The song has also inspired a group of unpaid carers from Scarborough to do a cover version of the song to mark Carers Week, which kicked off this week (8-14 June).

Prof Graham Leslie CBE wrote his song United Together at the beginning of the lockdown with help from Hollywood composer Benson Taylor, who helped produce it, and alternative rock guitarist James Brown, from UK band Pulled Apart By Horses, who played the guitar. So far, the song has raised over £10,000, with more being pledged. The money will go towards supporting unpaid carers during the current pandemic that cannot access essential support services usually provided by a network of local carer organisations.

To mark Carers Week, which this year focuses on Making Caring Visible, carers that are supported by the Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource have come together to create their own cover version, having been inspired by the words of the song.

The local cover was recorded via Zoom and mobile phone, merged and produced into a well-co-ordinated collaborative piece by William Hatton-Price.

William has Mosaic Downs Syndrome and has been playing the drums since the age of three. William has been on the Action Towards inclusion project at Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource since October2019 and has had a variety of support including health and wellbeing and skills building to move closer to employment. He hopes to work with children in schools, and with William’s creative edge this is already becoming a reality.

Tracey Muschamp, a single mum of two daughters, also featured on the

cover. All three of them have 22q deletion syndrome, a condition that is present from birth and can cause a range of lifelong problems, including heart defects and learning difficulties, and has meant they have experienced years of hospital visits and operations. Tracey is their full-time-carer.

Graham Leslie is a longstanding supporter of the Carers Trust having spent time caring for his own mother when she became ill: “This cause is really important to me as I understand how much hard work and dedication is needed to look after a loved one that requires around-the-clock care. Millions of carers across the UK work tirelessly to look after others and often with little in return, so I wanted to give something back, especially during these challenging times.”

Carers Trust is a leading UK charity that supports people of all ages who care for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or could not otherwise manage without their support. Being an unpaid carer can be hard at the best of times, but the impact of coronavirus means that issues such as loneliness, isolation, financial hardship, or the ability to get a break from caring responsibilities have become even more challenging for carers.

Since the coronavirus outbreak: • 70% of carers are providing more care • 81% of carers are spending more money • On average caring 10 additional hours a week • 55% of carers feel overwhelmed and worried about burnout United Together is available on over 150 worldwide music platforms including Bandcamp, Spotify, You Tube, and iTunes. To access the song, go to www.grahamleslie.co.uk/united-together.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 13

Royds Withy King Urges Care Providers To Participate In Skills Shortage Consultation The Migration Advisory Committee consultation into the UK shortage occupation list closes on 24 June and care providers are urged to make sure their voice is heard, says law firm Royds Withy King.

The consultation opened on 13 May and is asking businesses, charities and other organisations to share their experiences of how they recruit, skills shortages and salary details. The results of the consultation will be published and presented to the Home Secretary in September.

Royds Withy King’s Health & Social Care Team provides a full range of legal support to regional and national care businesses including employment law, sales and acquisitions, property development and construction, CQC regulatory advice, inquests, debt recovery and mental capacity.

James Sage, Partner and Head of Social Care at law firm Royds Withy King comments.

“The Home Secretary has confirmed the Government’s intention to push ahead with its

Immigration Bill restricting entry into the UK to what it calls low-skilled workers. It will deliver a punishing blow to the country’s social care sector, which faces a shortfall of 128,000 staff, with that number growing exponentially over the next decade.

“The salary cap of £25,600 will exclude the social care sector from recruiting much needed staff from overseas for the foreseeable future and makes no allowance for part-time staff even if they earn the required amount on a pro-rata basis. In a sector that is heavily reliant on a part-time and predominantly female workforce it will be particularly challenging to meet the salary threshold.

“It is essential that the care sector is recognised on the shortage occupation list and vitally important the care providers participate in this consultation and make their voice heard.

Details of the consultation can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ shortage-occupation-list-call-for-evidence

Novellini launch BeSafe walls to help the UK return to work safely

Care Home Deaths Still Around 49% Higher Than Normal Updated figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of care home deaths due to Covid-19 in England and Wales: • Data from the week ending 29 May 2020 shows that there were 1,822 total Covid-19 deaths registered in that week, which shows a decrease of 767 from the previous week.

• However, 2,503 people died in care homes from any cause, which is 49% higher than expected based on looking at the five year average.

Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influencing at Alzheimer’s Society said: ‘From the start, people with dementia have been worst hit by coronavirus, with thousands dying from

both the virus and its wider impact. While we’re seeing a decrease in care home deaths today, they are 49 per cent higher than normal – likely to result from a combination of social isolation, reduced staffing levels, and interruptions to health services.

We must not become complacent, as people with dementia’s lives are still at risk.

The Government’s new Social Care Taskforce must address the complex needs of people with dementia in this crisis, and its first urgent task should be to understand why so many people with dementia have died since the pandemic started.

‘With the threat of a second spike lessons must be learnt, and quickly, to prevent further tragedy.’

Hallmark Care Homes Plant Trees To Mark Unity Hallmark care homes across England and South Wales have held a tree planting ceremony to mark this poignant moment in history and symbolise unity amongst care home residents and team.

The ornamental pear tree, which was chosen because it is signifies persistence and perseverance as it is the first to come into leaf in spring and the last to lose its leaves in winter was planted at 19 care homes recently as part of the care group’s ‘Moment in Time’ celebrations.

Residents social distanced in the garden and café to witness the planting of the trees which seek to represent the shared experiences between the homes, residents and team.

As well as planting a tree, the residential, nursing and dementia homes celebrated by burying time capsules, creating bottle lanterns, releasing butterflies and hosting outdoor entertainment and exercise sessions.

Head of Relationship Centred Care at Hallmark Care Homes, April Dobson said: “There are many moments in time that hold significance for each of us throughout our lives. Over the last few months, we have shared some difficult and some good times, and the event brings us together across Hallmark to remember and reflect. The trees we are planting mark this moment in time and are a symbol of hope for the future.”

General Manager at Anisha Grange Care Home, Daniel Rowark said: “The event was both a celebration and a reflection of the journey we have been on together as a home these past few months.

“We have become a closer team and a closer family because of the challenges we have faced.

This Moment in Time symbolises the unity and solidarity between all the homes, residents and team

during this pandemic and will be a symbolic reminder for many years to come.”

Going the Distance – Residents & Staff of Castle View Windsor Complete a Virtual Marathon ‘Let’s get fit and raise money for the NHS’ was the suggestion, at which point the community of the Castle View retirement village in Windsor took to their feet and completed a virtual Marathon together (26.2 miles / 42.2km).

Running or walking around one of two routes, they had the option of using the outside of the building from the reception and around the back of the building – this route was 0.17km and took an average of 4 minutes to complete (248 laps required), or around The Sky deck which gave a route of 0.11km in an average time of 3 minutes (383 laps), all measured accurately on a pedometer.

A combination of the two routes totalling 26.2 miles took just six days to finish and involved residents and staff, as well as Benjy the village manager’s dog who was an extremely enthusiastic participant.

“It was a lot of fun during lockdown,” said Lisa Fisher, village manager of Castle View. “It was a valiant effort enthusiastically embraced by everyone, including those who weren’t perhaps quite so strong on their feet but used their strollers to help them round.” £970 has so far been raised for NHS charities through a Just Giving Page – https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/castle-view-retirement-village-ltd which is still open for anyone who would like to support the cause.

In fact, so successful was the fundraising event, that the residents are now embarking on an extension – from Land’s End to John O’Groats

Workplaces around the nation are preparing for when the UK can return to a kind of normality. The Novellini Group presents a solution that will help to create safe working environments that are hygienic and adaptable. The BeSafe wall is a protective device that companies with any office, desk space, trade counters, and food service areas can incorporate going forward.

The primary benefit? Hygiene. Employees will feel protected with the BeSafe wall as it provides a barrier. Constructed from 6mm tempered glass, it’s easy to clean with any alcoholic disinfectant. In smaller spaces where it’s difficult to sit two meters away, the wall is a particularly helpful solution.

Office teams aren’t the only ones who will be happy to see these walls put in place. BeSafe is a smart answer for all industries where contact with the public is required, such as pharmacies, retail counters, restaurants and public offices.

Novellini can customise each barrier to suit the space with three versions (floor mounted, trade counter, and desks) and five different sizes.

UK Sales Manager at Novellini, Stuart West says ‘We are looking to help the UK workforce where we can and these are a positive answer to those concerns about health and hygiene.’

As specialists in showers and design, Novellini are putting their skills to good use and many businesses across the UK will be pleased to find a safe and stylish solution. They are even available in several colours and glass finishes to suit the surroundings.

For more information contact Novellini UK on 01727 229922 or visit the website at www.novellini.co.uk For brochure and advice please email info-uk@novellini.com For large projects or orders, customized solutions can be evaluated. We are available to evaluate and propose BeSafe Wall solutions specific for your protection needs.

PAGE 14 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

Care Homes Are The Safest Place For Disabled Adults The chief executive of one of the UK’s more prominent social care providers, which has not suffered a single death in its 130 homes due to Covid-19, has hit back at claims that the sector is no longer safe for vulnerable people.

John Godden is the CEO of Salutem, which operates 130 specialist services nationwide and has only reported three confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no deaths (as at 8 June 2020).

Commenting, John Godden, CEO of Salutem, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has focused the spotlight on care homes in a very negative way, highlighting the vulnerability of the people we support.

“Across all our services nationwide, we have worked unceasingly to ensure they remain safe, happy spaces for the people we support. The homes we operate for Adults and Children with Learning, Mental Health or Physical Disabilities are generally very small with four to six residents and are very safe places with strong infection control processes and much fewer chances to be exposed to infection such as hospital visits.

“It’s a tragic fact that many vulnerable people with challenging physical and mental disabilities have lost their lives to COVID-19.

But, for example, 98 per cent of care homes for people with learning difficulties have had no cases of the virus at all.

“The perception that care homes are no longer safe, poses a far greater, long term threat to vulnerable people. Deprived of the specialist physical and mental support they need to lead happy, healthy lives as independently as possible, the global crisis could yet deliver an even more crushing blow to society’s most at risk.”

Since the disease began to take hold in the UK, Salutem has introduced rigorous procedures to protect the vulnerable people it supports. The measures have included: • Rigorous hand-washing protocols • Frequent cleaning of all surfaces and touchpoints • Temperature checks for staff and visitors on arrival • Staff changing clothes on the premises

Thinking Of Selling Your Business?

Fine - But Take Time To Breathe

By Neil Jones, head of the Corporate and Commercial team at Ansons Solicitors (www.ansonssolicitors.com)

Despite the massive impact COVID-19 and the lockdown has had on the UK economy, many businesses have continued trading, although not all are recognisable as essential services.

Unfortunately, some sectors have been impacted more than others, which has led to many business owners debating whether to sell their business, in a bid to make up for the loss of earnings.

However, whilst the future may seem bleak currently, making snap decisions can be counter-productive, especially as potential buyers can sense the desperation amongst some business owners.

For this reason, owners must exercise caution when dealing with issues like due diligence, warranties, indemnities and price adjustment mechanisms, ensuring they do not accept much poorer terms than they usually would.

Of course, if a deal was agreed before the crisis unfolded, then it’s understandable if the buyer wants to renegotiate parts of the deal to reflect the current climate. However, as a seller, it’s a situation you want to avoid at all costs, as

you could stand to lose a lot of money.

Ultimately, buyers are interested in the longterm viability and potential of the business, which must be reflected in the terms of the deal.

Sellers should take steps to protect themselves, like asking for payments up-front to avoid the risk of deferred payments, as the current volatility could impact the buyer as much as it does the seller.

Simple steps to success If you’ve decided to sell the business, then you must follow a set of clearly defined steps, including securing the positions of employees, minimising personal tax liabilities and deciding what expert advice is needed.

When taking on expert help, it’s crucial that the professionals you choose have the experience needed to deliver a positive outcome within your sector. A clear division of responsibilities and an agreed fee structure should also be in place, with both written down.

From there, it’s about securing the best deal possible. This can involve tidying up loose ends, selling under-used property or equipment, positioning major purchases or implementing strict stock management and credit control measures to maximise working capital and create a stable, longer term financial pattern.

Currently, sellers are more likely to be approached directly by buyers keen to offer a valuation that maximises their chances of securing the business as cheaply as possible.

The seller must evaluate the status of the buyer as carefully as they would normally to understand if they can fund the purchase.

Although the current climate may encourage sellers to fast-track due diligence, this could play into the hands of many buyers, who want you to rush through the deal.

During the COVID-19 lockdown and the likely

economic uncertainty to follow, it’s only natural buyers may place increased emphasis when performing due diligence, on aspects such as insurance, supply chain risks, business continuity and employee health and safety policies.

From the seller’s perspective, it’s important to be open and transparent, as this will help you build up trust with potential buyers and protect against future claims if information was not fully disclosed.

Sellers should rely on their expert advisors to fully interrogate the details of any offer, which these advisers will view dispassionately.

With any deferred pricing mechanisms or earn-outs, the seller needs to ensure they are fully covered with reference to COVID-19’s impact on their business.

The buyer may predict a business slowdown over the next 6 months and attempt to structure a deal based around continued pre-COVID earnings during that period, which may result in that earn-out being unachievable.

The seller needs to be clear about what a realistic prospect for future trading is (allied to their own ability to influence that trading postsale) with clauses in the sales agreement reflecting that reality.

Selling might be the only option for some business owners but must exercise caution.

COVID-19 has created market conditions where speculators feel they can grab bargains, but wise sellers can still structure any agreement to ensure the business they have worked hard to build, is not undervalued.

About the author: Neil Jones is the head of the Corporate and Commercial team at Ansons Solicitors. He advises on a wide range of business contracts and transactions, including mergers and acquisitions; company and business sales; company reorganisations.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 15

DO YOU KNOW THE CARER’S NEXT UNSUNG HERO? Regular readers will know we here at the Carer have been awarding an Unsung Hero each Summer and Christmas since 2016!

Now, in these unprecedented and testing times we are looking for another Unsung Hero! (How we wish we could reward you all!)

Say hello to some previous ers!

A two night luxury break for winn

Care Home urst of Cloverfield Marion Brockleh

Debbie Day of Cedars Care Home

two people in a choice of over 300 UK-wide hotels is the prize! £50 Marks & Spencer vouchers for two runners-up! e Boynes Care Centr Sam Buckley of The

Tina Higginson of Sam brook care home

A no-frills, no glitz or glamour competition - all we ask is for you to send us a paragraph or two nominating your Unsung Hero from any department with a brief description of how they've gone that extra mile and deserve to be recognised.

✓ Do you know our next Unsung Hero?

Email your nomination to us by Monday, July 6 at

nominate@thecareruk.com

PAGE 16 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

Inquests, Care Home Residents, and Medical Negligence: The Limits on the Application of the Positive Duty to Protect Life Under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights

By Emma Price, barrister at 5 Essex Court (5essexcourt.co.uk) protect life under article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to a death, the coroner conducting the inquest is required to return an expanded conclusion on the record of inquest. An expanded conclusion answers not just the question of “how” but also “in what circumstances” the person died. The effect of an inquest being a broader article 2 inquest is that judgmental conclusions about failings that may have caused or contributed to the death can be recorded in the record of inquest.

The evidence heard at the inquest, whilst not of itself admissible in civil proceedings, will often determine whether a civil claim for damages for breach of article 2 is pursued against the party said to have caused or contributed to the death.

THE FACTS OF THE CASE

The recent decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of R (Maguire) v HM Senior Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde [2020] EWCA Civ 738 addresses the question of whether the positive duty of the state to protect life under article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights is owed to a vulnerable care home resident whose liberty is restricted under a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (“DoLS”) authorisation. Its conclusion? It might do, but only in limited circumstances.

AN ARTICLE 2 OR A NON-ARTICLE 2 INQUEST – WHY DOES IT MATTER? Where there is an arguable breach of the state’s positive obligation to

Jacqueline Maguire (“JM”) was 52 when she died in hospital on 22 February 2017 of the effects of a perforated gastric ulcer. She had Down’s Syndrome, in addition to learning disabilities and behavioural difficulties, as well as some physical limitations. She had lived for more than 20 years in a residential care home. Her placement was paid for and supervised by the local council and she was the subject of a standard DoLS authorisation.

JM became ill over the two days before her death. A range of criticisms were levelled at the care home, paramedics and an out of hours GP in respect of delay in JM being admitted to hospital.

THE COURT OF APPEAL’S DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The Court of Appeal did not accept that the vulnerability of an individual in JM’s position, coupled with the fact of a DoLS authorisation automatically dictated that she was owed the article 2 duty to protect

life.

The article 2 duty is owed to vulnerable people under the care of the state for some purposes. A duty to protect from harm may exist where the type of harm is entirely within the control of those caring for the individual concerned. So Article 2 might be engaged in circumstances where appalling conditions in a residential care home led to the death of a vulnerable resident subject to a DoLS authorisation. The positive duty is not owed to a person in this situation for all purposes however; and a death which followed alleged failures or inadequate interventions by medical professionals would not generally engage article 2. JM was resident in a care home because she was unable to look after herself and it was not possible for her to live with her family; she was not there for medical treatment; and if she needed medical treatment it was sought, in the usual way, from the NHS.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CARE SECTOR NHS Figures suggest that about 200,000 applications are made for DoLS authorisations per year, about half of which are granted. In light of the significant number of deaths of care home residents in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Court of Appeal’s decision is likely to be a significant one for the care sector. Absent any other factors, where medical help has been sought for a vulnerable resident subject to a DoLS authorisation through NHS 111 or via a GP, or through the emergency services and medical advice has been acted on, it is unlikely that article 2 will be engaged. Where however there are questions about the adequacy of preventative measures in respect of Covid-19 in a residential care home or medical help has not been sought when it should have been, the position may be different.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 17

Residents of Two Care Homes in Oxfordshire Reunited with Loved Ones for First Time Since Lockdown Residents of two care homes in Oxfordshire were recently reunited with their loved ones for the first time since the start of lockdown, after new safety measures were implemented to allow for visitors.

The new measures in place at Rosebank and Churchfields enable families to visit their loved one’s face to face, in a safe environment.

Rosebank and Churchfields Care Home homes are following strict safety procedures.

All visits are being carefully organised and monitored by the manager, and are taking place in the garden, with two metre social distancing.

Jane Roberts, owner of the two care homes in Oxfordshire commented: “We’re delighted to be able to introduce socially-distanced visits into both Rosebank and Churchfields.

“It needed to happen as we felt that residents required that family link that they have so dearly missed, and we can already see the positive impact that it is having on our resident’s wellbeing.

“We are feeling our way very carefully, and our families are being incredibly understanding and supportive.

These are tentative first steps, as we inch our way forward to a new norm.

“Our priority is to provide a secure, safe and loving environment for our residents as well as keeping all of our residents and staff safe from the risks of Covid-19.”

It’s been almost 12 weeks since residents from the Oxfordshire homes have been face to face with their loved ones and the feedback from residents has been extremely positive with one resident commenting: “That has made my day and is going to keep me going for the rest of the week.”

Martin Woodley, who visited his mother for the first time on Thursday was delighted to be reunited after three months.

He commented: “It was so lovely to see my mum, she looked so well and happy. We have been chatting on the phone each day, but to see her again in person is just wonderful.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to Churchfields for their care and support during these challenging times. Mum sees the staff as her second family, and she has everything she needs, which is hugely reassuring. They have been incredible.”

Support Worker Celebrates 30 Years at Learning Disability Charity A senior support worker from Shipston on Stour is celebrating three decades of employment at a learning disability charity.

The 67 year senior support worker, Denise Mumford, has been supporting adults with learning disabilities to live the best life possible at national charity Hft for the last 30 years. After beginning her career in social care at a care home for the elderly, Denise was looking for a change of direction when she spotted a vacancy at a nearby Hft service in the early nineties.

Denise has played a key role in raising awareness of the funding pressures facing adult social care by supporting a man to take part in the charity’s It Doesn’t Add Up campaign. This saw him join members of the charity’s speak-out group to present a petition calling for an increase in funding for adult social care to the government, followed by a parliamentary reception where people were able to share concerns about the funding deficit.

During the pandemic, support workers like Denise have been more important than ever to the adults with learning disabilities who rely on their support. They include a lady in Moreton in Marsh whose mental health was suffering as a result of not being able to take part in her weekly activity of answering the phone at the day opportunities service where she is supported. Denise noticed her behaviour changing as a result, and arranged for her to continue answering the phone at the service at a safe distance from others. The lady now enjoys a regular change of scenery, and a chance to get some

daily exercise by walking to the service, which has helped her to regain her confidence.

Denise said: “I love my job and I have met some wonderful characters along the way! The best thing about being a support worker is making a difference to people’s lives, and getting them recognised for who they are, and not just their disability. It’s been amazing to see people living within their community in Moreton, where everyone has been so welcoming. Support work is so much more rewarding than people think and is more important than ever at this time, when people with learning disabilities need care and reassurance more than ever. I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Clive Parry, Regional Manager at Hft, said: “Working tirelessly over three decades to support adults with learning disabilities to live the best life possible, Denise has seen a great many changes during her time at Hft. However, one thing that has remained constant throughout has been her passion for helping people to have greater choice and control of their own lives.

“Denise has often advocated for people whose voices would not otherwise be heard and provided support and the benefit of her wealth of experience to Hft colleagues within her service but also the wider region. In a fast-changing world, Hft and adults with learning disabilities depend on people like Denise and I can’t thank her enough for her unwavering enthusiasm and commitment over thirty years’ dedicated service.”

PAGE 18 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

Uniting Clinical and Social Care Through IoT Transformation

By Peter Glover, Clinical Lead for Proactive Care, Farnham Integrated care in NHS North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG Coronavirus has presented huge challenges on a global scale, the economy has suffered, jobs have been lost and many businesses have borne the brunt as they run into significant financial difficulties. But these are all things that can recover. Sadly, the hundreds of thousands of lives that have been lost will not. That’s not to discredit frontline workers who have battled in vain to save thousands of lives, they have truly earned their hero titles and without these tremendous efforts, it’s safe to say thousands more lives would have been lost.

But in these incredibly gloomy times, Peter Glover, Clinical Lead for Proactive Care, Farnham Integrated care in NHS North East Hampshire and Farnham CCG, shares his opinion that Coronavirus has been the catalyst for transformational change across the NHS as there has been little to no choice in relying upon digital solutions to help cope with the extra pressure – a move that is long overdue, but nonetheless, welcome. He insists that this digital evolution within the healthcare sector must continue beyond the Covid-19 crisis and crucially, clinical and social care must be much closer aligned to deliver better care for the population as a whole.

BUILDING ON EXPERIENCE The issue of joining up patient clinical records remains a challenge.

Too often, patients visiting different clinical settings, such as their GP, A&E or outpatient setting have to repeat their medical history as clinicians don’t have full access to medical history. For example, ambulance

personnel called to complex, chronically ill patients that are in crisis need patient information to understand the baseline for that patient.

Without it, the default must be to take them to hospital – a move that is counter-intuitive to the patients long term health given the risks of infections and further deterioration within the hospital setting.

To combat this, an intelligence based information system (IBIS) was created that allowed community clinicians to upload relevant, precise, clinical information about their patients, and so if the patient dialed 111 or 999 that patient’s medical information would be unlocked, allowing for the best possible patient care and outcome. As a result the ambulance service has been transformed far beyond a 2D model.

But, it is now time for the whole of the NHS to digitally change for the better, and not look back. Returning to ‘normal’ healthcare settings that rely on paper-based records post Covid-19 should not be a strategy.

NO LOOKING BACK The strategy moving forwards should be that of adopting digital tools such as risk analysis, AI and machine learning to empower clinicians with accurate and shared patient information in order to deliver a more holistic and meaningful approach to care. With a simple app on your phone and sensor attached to your thermostat within your home, it is possible to find out what temperature your living room is recording, and in turn it is possible to adjust the temperature to your preference without even being at home. It is this kind of smart technology that should be rolled out widely and applied to numerous functions across the social care setting, as it has the potential to transform the level of support given to our most vulnerable individuals.

IoT systems like that of Karantis360 (karantis360.com) provide mobility to move from where we are now to where we want to go. By unassumingly monitoring movement, humidity, and temperature across a home enables a care organisation to rapidly gain a picture of each individual’s day to day routine – information that is then key to flagging

changes which could reveal a problem. These AI based tools arm carers with better information and enable them to intervene at the right time and create a care programme that best suits the needs of the individual.

This information also provides a platform for the end to end digitisation of healthcare, co-ordinating the ecosystem of local authorities, healthcare providers, NHS Trusts, GPs, registered nurses and care homes, inspiring a more proactive and interlinked approach to care.

In the majority of cases of older and chronically frail patients, there are evidential and significant warning signs of deterioration. A simple example of this is, a person with a urinary tract infection (UTI) may see a change and increase in the need to urinate whilst becoming slowly more agitated and irritated over a few days, their hydration level will decrease, their body temperature will increase, their appetite will decrease. Detecting early warning signs through the use of at-home monitoring technology allows for intervention before the patient reaches a critical point, thus reducing the high emergency cost to the NHS, and most importantly improving the patient outcome.

CONCLUSION The familiar saying ‘social care in crisis’ is nothing new, and it’s only been further exacerbated by Covid-19, but without implementing change it will never go away. The time has come to acknowledge and embrace the power of digital technology, like what has already been witnessed across different sectors within the NHS since Coronavirus forced digital transformation – the ‘Test and Trace’ system or the new GP E-consult, for example. The reality is that planned transformation often has many process and ownership barriers, and so a complete overhaul will take time. But, IoT and home-monitoring models, such as Karantis360, bypasses some of the industry barriers by going straight to the patient with a solution that can empower a vulnerable individual’s relatives, loved ones and caregivers, to ensure the individual has a full, meaningful, safe life in a place they choose, in a manner that they dictate.

St Barnabas Hospice Scoops Two Charity Awards As if celebrating its birthday by ‘going yellow’ last week wasn’t exciting enough, Lincolnshire-based St Barnabas Hospice was also awarded two charity awards recognising its work; making the milestone all the more memorable.

Following several awards wins last year, St Barnabas has bagged two more titles at the East Midlands Charity Awards, namely ‘Best Social and Digital Media’ and the ‘Outstanding Charity Support by Large Companies’ award which has been won in association with the Hospice’s corporate partner, HomeLet. The charity also made a mark in the overall ‘East Midlands Charity of the Year’ award, coming away with a ‘Highly Commended’ trophy.

Head of Income Generation and People at St Barnabas, Michele Duggan, said: “We were over the moon on Thursday evening, our Forget-Me-Not campaign was an amazing one that really struck a chord with our support-

ers and our social media made people aware of that. We’re so proud of the Marketing and Fundraising teams for thinking creatively and running such a widely-shared campaign. The campaign has been one of our most successful as it raised more than £104,000 and was beautifullydisplayed at Lincoln Castle. It is also something that has inspired and shaped our current Dragonflies campaign and the idea of remembering a loved one forever with a keepsake.

“We are also so pleased to share an award with our valued partners HomeLet, as they are incredibly supportive and it’s great to have that recognised.

“Credit must go to our staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to provide what we know is an absolutely essential service for those families who need our support the most during what can be very difficult times.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 19

Dice Loaded Against Care Homes Care England,has welcomed the National Audit Office’s report on readying the NHS and adult social care in England for COVID-19.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “This report makes it crystal clear for all to see just how under resourced care homes were before the pandemic hit. We should be congratulating adult social care staff for going above and beyond their duties in order to provide care for their residents especially against a backdrop of insufficient funding, lack of PPE and an inadequate testing regime”.

Readying the NHS and adult social care in England for COVID-19 can be found at www.nao.org.uk It provides a factual overview of the response by the Department of Health and Social Care and other bodies during March and April 2020 to prepare the NHS and adult social care in England for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Martin Green continues: “Let’s be clear about this; the dice were loaded against care homes. The Government has attempted to alleviate certain pressures on the sector, but whilst the intention is there the COVID-19 relief funds have not made it to the front line. Instead they have been tied up in a tangle of bureaucratic spaghetti”.

New Expert Dementia Consultancy Service Available For Care Home Staff In Response To Covid-19 Dementia Support UK: Connect, Consult, will provide immediate expert support for people caring for those living with dementia in the care home sector.

This new service, funded by Innovate UK, and provided by HammondCare is now available to every care home in England. In response to the COVID crisis, the service provides care home managers and their staff with access to a trained consultant at no cost to provide personal, non-pharmacological support – through video conferencing and telephone consultation.

This new service addresses an urgent need to help people living with dementia in care homes, their carers and families. People living with dementia have been impacted by coronavirus and the social isolation resulting from restrictions on family visits has led to depression and anxiety. Care staff are dealing with increased pressure and reduced staffing levels and interruption in services from other parts of the health and social care sector.

Associate Professor Colm Cunningham, Director of Dementia Centre, HammondCare said: “The aim of the service is to help staff, solve problems and give them confidence. We know that the care sector has been severely impacted by COVID-19, carers feel isolated and routines and support networks have been interrupted. This service will help the care home sector at this time of urgent need. Our consultants will be able to offer advice and support and share

their extensive knowledge of dementia-related behaviours. We are a listening ear and additional support to help them offer the best care.”

“We know, from working with this model of care, that if people living with dementia and care partners are supported in times of disruption, we can reduce the need for more costly health resources, such as hospital care.”

Executive Director of the National Care Forum, Vic Rayner, encourages use of this new service.

“Dementia care is a highly specialist area of care and ensuring the consistent delivery of person-centred care within a global pandemic is paramount. Therefore, it is very helpful at this time, that this new service provided

by HammondCare and funded by Innovate UK will allow care homes free access to expertise from specialist colleagues to support the continued delivery of high quality care across the country.”

Dementia Support UK: Connect, Consult, is a new service adapted from a tried and tested and innovative approach developed in Australia through a programme led by the Dementia Centre, HammondCare. Since the start of that programme in 2016 the partnership has supported over 25,000 people with dementia in care homes, domestic homes and hospitals.

Care homes can access Dementia Support UK: Connect, Consult in the first instance by visiting dementiasupportuk.org.

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Care Company Launches Competition To Mark Learning Disability Week

To mark Learning Disability Week (15-21 June), Salutem has launched a competition across its 120 services to design a colouring book.

The idea for the competition came from a resident at the company’s Greenfields Care Home in Coddington, who recently created his own colouring book to help himself and other residents combat the lockdown blues.

Peter Gascoigne, 51, who is living with learning difficulties and epilepsy, enjoys colouring in and wanted to share the happiness it brings him with other people in his service.

With help from his support worker Ben

Rostance, Peter set to drawing different images to include in his colouring book, along with other activities such as a wordsearch and a place to share wishes.

Greenfields is a specialist care home for adults with learning difficulties and autism.

Peter’s colouring book has also inspired the company-wide colouring book designing competition for Learning Disability Week. Service users across its services are being invited to design colouring patterns, the winners will be included in a published book.

Peter said: “I have always loved colouring, and I wanted to share how it makes me feel with the other service users.”

John Godden, CEO at Salutem, said: “Colouring in is a pastime enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. But it has particular benefits for people with learning disabilities, providing them with a stimulating outlet for creativity.

So, what better time to launch our competition than during Learning Disability Week.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the winners of our national competition and turning it into a colouring book available to all the people we support across the country.”

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 21

Additional Vitamin D Recommended in Care Homes

by Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (www.doctorfox.co.uk)

In April 2020, the NHS issued a statement, based on recommendations from Public Health England, that the entire UK population should take a daily vitamin D supplement - at a dose of 10 mcg/day. This was to ensure healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. The recommendation also states there is no evidence that taking extra vitamin D will reduce the risk of coronavirus infection.

This recommendation is of great importance to care home residents. However, is also applies to all staff working in residential care homes. Many people remain unaware they should be taking a vitamin D supplement.

Vitamin D deficiency affects 50% of the world population, and this includes developed countries. Inadequate levels of vitamin D are very common in elderly people in institutionalised care. For example, a 2017 study in the British Journal of Geriatrics reported 41% of care home residents had deficient vitamin D levels – defined as levels lower than 25 nmol/L. The Lancet (20th May 2020) recently reported that Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased risk from COVID-19 infection. An up-todate European analysis of mortality rates due to COVID-19 infection,

found the highest rates occurred in countries with the lowest levels of vitamin D. There are already numerous, well-known, serious, health implications for older people with an inadequate intake of vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels are associated with muscle weakness, more frequent falls, and fractures. They are also associated with an increased risk of sepsis, cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, dementia, and stroke.

It is well known that vitamin has a major role in calcium metabolism.

However, what is often not appreciated, is that it also has an important function in the body defence mechanisms.

Vitamin D helps maintain the cellular integrity of the epithelium, keeping cell junctions tightly opposed, and hence is vitally important for barrier function. It also has complex interactions in both the innate, and the adaptive immune system – affecting both cellular immunity and antibody production.

Vitamin D deficiency increases our overall mortality risk. For example, one large, 2014 meta-analysis, including data from 32 good-quality studies, concluded that vitamin D deficiency increased mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death.

On the other hand, randomised controlled trials, carried out mostly in older people, have shown that replacing vitamin D with supplements, leads to a reduction in all-cause mortality.

Although there is still much to learn about COVID-19 infection, there are many sensible reasons why correcting low levels of vitamin D are likely to have health benefits, not just for care home residents, but also

for staff in the health and social care sector.

Vitamin D deficiency affects all age groups, races, ethnic groups, and social classes. People with darker skin are more at risk of vitamin D deficiency as they require substantially more UVB to produce vitamin D in their skin, than fairer-skinned people. BAME groups have also been recognized recently have worse outcomes from infection with COVID-19.

Nutritionists suggest that we all start vitamin D supplements now, to boost levels before the onset of winter. This is when seasonal flu, and respiratory infections are most common.

Whether vitamin D supplementation will improve outcomes with COVID-19 is not known, but there are numerous health benefits from correcting vitamin D levels, and any positive effect on COVID infection, would only be a welcome bonus.

Vitamin D supplements are generally safe and well-tolerated. It should be noted, there is no benefit from taking vitamin D supplements at higher than recommended doses – indeed high levels of vitamin D, may be harmful.

Older adults, who are frail, and often have multiple health conditions, should be assessed regarding their eligibility for vitamin D supplements.

These are most often prescribed along with calcium supplements.

Medical advice may be needed, to help decide on their optimal vitamin D dose.

For more information - Vitamin D deficiency,(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532266/) Omeed Sizar et al, April 28th, 2020

Covid-19 Crisis: Doctors’ Launch Legal Challenge Over PPE Shortages Doctors’ leaders have launched a High Court challenge against the Government for its refusal to launch an urgent inquiry into shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff and other frontline care workers.

A declare for judicial evaluation has been lodged with the court docket by the Doctors’ Association UK, Hourglass, a charity which works to prevent abuse and neglect of older individuals.

The challenge sets out the Department of Health’s legal obligation under the Human Rights Act 1998 and Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights to commence an immediate and independent investigation into whether failures to provide adequate PPE may have caused or contributed to the deaths or serious illness from COVID-19 of workers in the health and social care sectors, as well as patients and care home residents.

There have been at least 180 deaths of NHS staff and 131 deaths of social care workers in England.

Commenting on the charity’s move to join the Doctor’s Association

UK and the Good Law Project in bringing legal action, Hourglass CEO, Richard Robinson, said: “Recent figures have shown that at least 40% of all coronavirus deaths so far have occurred in care homes – the very places dedicated to keeping older people safe in their later years. The under-reporting of deaths, the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing available to staff, and the practice of transferring untested hospital patients into care facilities without sufficient processes for managing infection have all contributed to the deaths of over 130 staff and more than 20,000 care home residents.

“Indeed, our care homes have effectively been left to fend for themselves throughout the pandemic, as staff – in some cases left with nothing but bin bags for protection – risk their own lives to care for some of the most vulnerable people in our society. This cannot continue.

“As lockdown restrictions ease, it is vital that lessons are learned from our response to the pandemic before we encounter a second wave. There can be no excuse for a repeat of the carnage we’ve seen in our care homes over the last few months. The government must act now and commit to an urgent public inquiry before yet more lives are lost.”

Jolyon Maugham, Director of Good Law Project said: “You may think

we will get a public inquiry, one day. Fine, perhaps we will. But for it to be meaningful it must have sensible terms of reference. It must be independent, by which we mean not led by a handpicked civil servant.

And it must be soon – because we need to learn lessons before a second or third wave. These are the things at stake in this case – justice to the 200 who have lost their lives in public service requires it.”

Dr Rinesh Parmar, Chair of the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) said: “We have seen over the last few weeks that the UK has one of the highest death rates from COVID-19 in the world. Health and social care workers rose to the challenge, returned to the frontline from retirement and pulled out all the stops to save lives. Some had no PPE, others had inadequate, out of date perishing supplies. Alongside caring for patients, we’ve cared for colleagues and also faced the sad and grim reality of losing colleagues, who themselves were caring for patients.

“As we recover from the first wave of COVID-19 there is a real and credible possibility that we will face a second wave in the coming months or into the winter. Now is the time to learn key lessons to enable us to avoid future pitfalls, protect the frontline and ultimately save lives. Our calls for a public inquiry and our petition of nearly 120,000 signatures have all fallen on deaf ears as the government buries its head in the sand and steadfastly refuses to commit to the learning required to prevent further tragedies.”

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 23

Campaign Targets Unlawful ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ Orders Issued During Covid-19 A checklist to support disabled people, families and care staff challenge illegal ‘do not resuscitate’ orders from doctors is published today (Thursday) as part of a campaign by Turning Point and Learning Disability England (LDE).

The organisations say the document will help protect the rights of people with a learning disability if they become sick with coronavirus. It has been drawn up in response to a rise in GPs and hospital staff issuing ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR) forms without consulting patients or their families.

A total of 22 orders received since April have been called into question by Turning Point who says this compares with three a month on average requiring challenge.

Cases that Turning Point has challenged successfully include: • A man in his 50s with sight loss* who was incorrectly diagnosed with coronavirus after admission to hospital following a choking incident.

Doctors discharged the patient – who had aspiration pneumonia but has since recovered fully – the next day with a DNACPR form on the basis of ‘blindness and severe learning disabilities’.

• A man** whose quality of life would not be ‘worth it’ if he had to be resuscitated with CPR, according to a doctor. His father – a widower in his 80s living alone – says: “He (the doctor) rang me out of the blue. I’d never not

want to resuscitate him, I want him saving. I’ve been fighting for him all his life. He’s all I have and comes to see me almost every day.”

Despite getting these and other decisions revoked, Turning Point and LDE – who between them and their members support or represent thousands of people UK-wide with a learning disability – say other disabled people may be denied potentially life-saving treatment.

A recent survey by LDE of its members found that one in five (20%) of organisations had seen DNAPCRs placed in people’s medical records without consultation in March and April.

Senior NHS officials and ministers have taken action to stop forms being issued widely. But unlawful orders are still being received by Turning Point and LDE. The aim of the checklist is to support disabled people, their families and carers to ask key questions, such as whether doctors told the patient about the decision to discharge them from hospital with a DNACPR. If not, the document advises them to get the clinician who authorised the order to provide details on why the decision was taken in the first place.

Families who welcome the checklist include Marie-Anne Peters whose brother Alistair has epilepsy but no underlying health conditions.

With the help of their local health commissioners and Turning Point, she and her sister overturned a doctor’s order not to take Alistair to hospital if he fell ill with coronavirus.

Marie-Anne, from West Yorkshire, said: “If the staff at his care home hadn’t alerted our local health commissioners or MP then who knows what could have happened. My brother has been fighting (for life) his whole life and keeps recovering. Why would we give up on him now?”

Julie Bass, Chief Executive at Turning Point, said: “It is not only illegal but outrageous that a doctor would decide not to save someone just because they have a learning disability. They have the same right to life as anyone else.

“We hope our campaign and the checklist will help support families and care staff in challenging these orders.”

Scott Watkin, LDE Representative Body Co-chair, said: “Decisions on people’s treatment that are based on someone having a learning disability are never OK – even one is too many.

“We’re pleased this guide has been made so people can understand their rights and speak up for themselves or their family member. It’s an important step in helping people challenge poor or illegal decisions.

Enough is enough.”

Plexus Innovation Provides GUARDIAN® To Help Safeguard Care Homes Plexus Innovation has forged links with Careline Lifestyles to take one of the job’s pressures off the nursing team at a time that is intense in the industry.

Ian Murray and Steve Todd, directors of Plexus Innovation, are successfully rolling out its innovative GUARDIAN® technology. They were keen, during such unprecedented times, that a care company benefitted with no initial cost implications.

GUARDIAN® is a remote, automated measurement and alert system that focuses on environmental data including temperature. Ideal in reducing the risk of legionella and ensuring temperature in water or refrigeration units is at an optimum level to protect health, Plexus Innovation’s technology comprises of a combination of hardware, with remote monitoring software.

Plexus Innovation supplied training to Careline Lifestyle staff, enabling the user to simply plug in and activate the hardware in seconds, putting the data live onto the portal managed by the experienced team at Plexus Innovation.

Provided initially for free, the arrangement covers nine of Careline Lifestyle’s homes across the North East.

GUARDIAN® is now monitoring 37 measurement points, including medical fridges and ambient room temperatures, which must be kept at compliant levels. Ian said: “GUARDIAN® is cost effective, reliable and reduces risk. We are delighted to be remotely monitoring for Careline, where lack of compliance can be of detri-

ment to medications, dispensed to the people they care for.

“Previously these critical assets would be checked manually, which leaves room for human error when people are busy or under pressure. Using GUARDIAN® the nurses can get on with looking after the people in their care and not worry about this detail. Our system identifies compliance issues, enabling us to keep clients informed, saving time, effort and often money!

“Plexus Innovation can really help and support much of the health, social housing, care and even the hospitality industry perfectly.”

Based in the North East, Careline Lifestyle is a leading independent provider of high quality nursing and residential care specialising in acquired brain injuries, neurological, mental health needs, learning and physical disabilities for persons over 18 years of age in addition to providing nursing, residential and social care for the elderly. Kirsty Nealis, Head of Care Delivery at Careline Lifestyles said: “With the extra pressures brought about by COVID-19 we couldn’t be more grateful for this GUARDIAN® helping hand to ensure our compliance measurements are done quickly, properly and even better, remotely.

“We are always looking at innovative new ways to improve our services which frees up staff, allowing them more time to support our residence. “ “Thank you to Ian and Steve of Plexus Innovation for the free installation and remote monitoring over these first few months of a new and trying challenge!”

More information on GUARDIAN® is available at www.plexus-innovation.com

PAGE 24 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

NHS Staff Tackling COVID-19 Use Virtual Reality to Help Reduce Anxiety and Stress NHS staff tackling COVID19 on the front line are, for the first time, using virtual reality (VR) to help support their mental health and wellbeing. The DR.VR™ Frontline Relief evaluation is available on the new FutureVision.Health web platform, a portal set up to promote the benefits of immersive technologies in healthcare, and shows how a collaboration between Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM UHB), the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) at Cardiff University, and Rescape Innovation, a pioneer in the use of VR to support patient recovery and rehabilitation, has produced really positive results in evaluating VR as a useful aid to support the mental health and wellbeing of frontline NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation co-author Dr Michelle Smalley, a Clinical Psychologist working in Intensive Care Units in Royal Glamorgan and Prince Charles Hospitals in CTM UHB, expanded her remit on the outbreak of COVID-19 to provide psychological support for staff and wider teams. Dr. Smalley said: “Roles radically changed on March 13, with a dramatic increase in stress and anxiety amongst frontline medical and nursing teams for both themselves and their loved ones. My role pivoted to focus on staff wellbeing and support, and trying to limit burn out, so we worked with Rescape to bring in DR.VR™ headsets to see if it would prove a useful aid in reducing anxiety, and give the medical teams some much needed relief.

“Being a clinical psychologist in unprecedented times has called for unprecedented measures to help support staff. From the moment I tried these headsets out myself, I realised their potential for helping with anxiety and stress, but we have to be evidence based in our approach. The results from this service evaluation are an important step in identifying an effective and user- friendly self- help tool for wellbeing. I'm excited to see the results from a wider scale implementation."

Emily James, 29 is an ITU nurse at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and has benefitted from using the VR technology.

She said: “I work in ITU, and the past few months have been busy and emotionally difficult for us all. I began using the VR head set at home after busy shifts and I found the meditation and breathing programmes very calming. The VR technology has the potential to really help those working in healthcare, particularly if it could be used at break times and mid shift.”

21 staff had access to a single use headset over a period of two weeks before being asked to complete an online survey. Participants selected their global virtual reality of choice, from a tour around the glorious landscapes of Wales culminating in the Principality Stadium and the anthem before the Wales v England match; to a guided journey through a rain forest; a voyage under the sea; travel through the Great West Way of England; or a wildlife safari.

The main results from the evaluation suggest that staff found using VR was an enjoyable experience, and they would recommend use to their colleagues to aid relaxation and for reducing stress. In particular, staff valued the meditative spaces and breathing exercises.

Lead author Dr Kim Smallman, Research Design and Conduct Service Consultant and Research Associate at Cardiff University’s Centre for Trials Research, said: “The impact on the mental health and wellbeing of frontline healthcare workers - and the need to provide emotional support for those working in such exceptional and distressing circumstances - became clear very early on in the pandemic.

"We decided to evaluate use of virtual reality to see if this could be a useful aid for staff and the results have been remarkably positive. Staff using VR said they found the experience to be enjoyable and relaxing and they found it helpful in reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.

"We now hope to trial this on a much larger scale and we think it has real potential to help many more people and to further our understanding of how VR can be used in the management of stress and anxiety.”

Paul Sweet is a nurse at Prince Charles Hospital. He said: “I found the use of the VR very therapeutic and relaxing. It took my mind off work completely as I became immersed in my new surroundings. It was easy to watch as the software was kept to a minimum and did not need a lot of thought to keep watching. I found that it reduced my levels of stress quickly and would be very beneficial to reduce anxiety if used in the right environment. The technology is great because it is completely portable and easy to use, and the software can be easily tailored to the individual.”

The work has highlighted the potential of VR to support the mental health and wellbeing of frontline staff.

Rescape Innovation CEO Matt Wordley said: “We’re now looking for research funding to investigate how VR can be used to support mental health and wellbeing, and we would like to test, at scale across the UK, its effectiveness for helping to manage stress and anxiety currently being experienced by many frontline workers. FutureVision.Health has been set up to act as a repository of outcomes and learnings to further the beneficial use of immersive technologies like virtual reality in healthcare. We’ve already had interest from a number of hospitals across the UK, and welcome further expressions from hospitals and care homes looking to use VR to help their staff. Future projects will feature VR benefits in maternity, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), informational impact and more as we look to increase the adoption of VR in a range of medical treatment plans.”

The evaluation is available on http://futurevision.health/research/ Cwmtafmorgannwg.wales Cardiff.ac.uk/centre-for-trials-research

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 27

Increased NHS Waiting Lists Could Delay Dementia Diagnosis Alzheimer’s Research UK has raised concerns about the impact a predicted rise in waiting lists could have for people with dementia. In a new report, the NHS Confederation revealed that NHS waiting lists could rise from 4.2 million today to 10 million in December 2020.

The UK’s leading dementia research charity is concerned that people with suspected dementia may not be able to access the specialist appointments they need quickly enough, which is vital for an accurate and timely dementia diagnosis.

There are currently estimated to be 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, but around only twothirds of these have a formal diagnosis. Today’s report points to a growing backlog of appointments caused by the need to maintain social distancing and guard against COVID-19 infections in hospitals.

Meanwhile, evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may also be causing people to avoid making doctor’s appointments, which in turn may add to the growing waiting lists and could mean people are missing out on important diagnostic assessments, access to treatments and post-diagnostic support. People currently have to wait up to three months to access specialist memory clinics, therefore these latest predictions could heighten an already existing problem.

Samantha Benham-Hermetz, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It’s extremely worrying if people are not coming forward because their worries about COVID-19 are stopping them from seeking the specialist help they need. Dementia is a progressive condition and the earlier it is picked up, the quicker people can learn to manage their symptoms, receive treatments, and plan for their future.

“We know that the NHS is still open for business, and it’s so important that appointments take place and people receive the assessments they need during the pandemic. If anyone does have concerns, whether for themselves or for someone they know, we would encourage them to talk to their GP. Today’s projections also underline the need to ensure the NHS has the necessary resources to be able to assess people with suspected dementia as quickly as possible.

“If we are to truly increase the dementia diagnosis rate, we also need to be able to detect the diseases that cause dementia much earlier. Alzheimer’s Research UK is committed, through research, to make life-changing breakthroughs possible that will transform the way we approach early detection.”

Care Home Staff In Wales To Receive £500 Extra Payment All care home staff in Wales will receive a £500 one-off payment, after care bosses and trade unions urged the Welsh Government to expand its bonus scheme.

The payment will also be extended to agency staff and nursing staff employed in care homes, as well as personal assistants and domiciliary care workers providing care to people in their own homes.

Arrangements are now being put in place to start making the extra payment to tens of thousands of social care staff across Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Government is continuing to work with the UK Government and HMRC to try to ensure that every penny of the payment reaches people’s pockets.

He said: Social care is the invisible scaffolding which holds our society together. Without the vital care provided by this small army of people who work in our homes and care homes, we know

the NHS would not be able to cope and very many people would not be living independent lives.

This payment recognises the tremendous dedication of the tens of thousands of social care workers throughout Wales who are caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

It is right that this payment is awarded to – those who play a role in looking after care home residents. As well as the important work social care staff are doing in people’s homes and care homes, we know that domestic and kitchen staff are working beyond their normal roles, providing care and friendship to residents during this pandemic.

All eligible social care staff, including ancillary staff, such as cleaners and kitchen staff; nurses employed in care homes; domiciliary care workers and personal assistants who worked between 15 March and 31 May will receive the £500 extra payment.

New Health Check Station A new product has been released to help check individuals’ temperatures as they enter a public space. The Health Check Station by Contour Heating has been designed to help control the spread of infection in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Manufactured from mild steel with a BioCote® anti-microbial powder coating, The Health Check Station has been designed with safety and efficiency in mind. A durable Perspex screen with a small cut out provides the user with a safe means of checking employee and visitor temperature upon arrival.

With a letterbox-style slot for documentation (such as registers and time-sheets) and informative signage to help reinforce key messages in relation to government guidelines, The Health Check Station can be used in offices, factories, retail units, public buildings, schools and much more.

The Health Check Station is available directly from Contour Heating. Call +44 (0) 1952 290 498 to find out more or head over to www.contourheating.co.uk.

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PAGE 28 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

ONS Report Shows 52% Increase In Excess Deaths Of People Dying Of Dementia A new report on death registrations not associated with COVID-19 from the ONS has given insight into the number of excess dementia deaths in England and Wales during the pandemic.

The largest increases in non-COVID-19 deaths compared to the fiveyear average are seen in deaths due to “dementia and Alzheimer disease” and “symptoms, signs and ill-defined conditions”.

There has been a 52.2% increase in excess deaths of people dying of dementia. This 52.2% represents 5,404 excess deaths of people with dementia.

Fiona Carragher, Director of Policy and Influencing at Alzheimer’s Society said:

‘We already knew people with dementia have been worst hit by the virus, accounting for a quarter of all the deaths we’ve seen.

‘But this 52% increase in excess deaths of people with dementia during the pandemic is staggering. It is the largest surge in deaths of any health condition.

‘There are so many grieving families around the country who need answers. We must understand what’s going on here.’

‘In care homes, we suspect isolation, fewer visitors, the resulting onset of depression, as well as interruption to health services are contributing, but there is surely also underreporting of Covid-19 deaths.

‘Early research is showing many people with dementia don’t display

typical symptoms, or may even be asymptomatic. We must have regular testing of all care home staff and residents to keep people safe.

‘Our Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Connect support line, which we’re fighting to keep open despite facing loss of half our total income, is taking calls from people every day feeling hopeless at the deterioration of their loved ones.

‘We know what good dementia care looks like, and social contact is key to keeping people with dementia well. The Government has to think hard about how to protect the lives of people with dementia if there is a second peak, we cannot have this scale of tragedy again.’

91-Year-Old Care Home Tenant Walks 14km To Raise Funds For Keyworkers A 91-year old tenant of Surrey-based Belvedere House, the maritime care home of The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, has raised £5,000 for the home’s keyworkers by walking laps of the grounds for 30 days.

Inspired by Captain Tom, John Eiffes wanted to recognise the 100 hardworking keyworkers that make up the Royal Alfred workforce – including nurses, care workers, cleaners, kitchen and maintenance staff –for the around-the-clock care they have provided throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walking 365 metres each day during his sponsored walk of 13,950km, John raised a total of £5,000 in donations. The money raised will buy each staff member a £50 voucher to thank the hard work of the staff during the pandemic.

The Society, which delivers expert care to former seafarers and their dependants, including those living with dementia, is a registered charity and was first established in 1865.

John Eiffes said of his charitable efforts: “I have been living at this home for 10 months and, from day one, the care and compassion I have received from every member of staff has been exceptional. All the tenants and residents really appreciate everything the Belvedere House staff do for us and we would have been lost without them during this very worrying time.

“I wanted to show our immense gratitude to the wonderful team and getting

out to fundraise was the least I could do for the people that give so much to us every day.”

Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt, CEO at The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, said: “On behalf of the Society and all of our staff, we would like to say a big thank you to our tenant John who has selflessly raised funds as a token of gratitude to the Royal Alfred workforce that keep the home running each day. A very special thank you to each and every member of our team who, during the pandemic, have sacrificed spending time with their own families to take care of our residents here at Belvedere House.

“It is our keyworkers that have kept the country together in times of such distress so I’d also like to say thank you to all keyworkers including NHS frontline staff, our emergency services, supermarket workers, farmers, transport operators and teachers. In the battle against the virus, we have come together to take care of one another and I am very proud of all of our keyworker staff at the Royal Alfred, and of those across the country, we owe you all our thanks and appreciation.”

To find out more about the work of The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society visit the charity’s website. To keep up to date with the latest news from the Society, follow and like the official Society Twitter (@RAseafarers) and Facebook pages.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 29

Residents At A Maidenhead Service Newcastle Care Home Celebrates TWO 102nd Birthdays Scoop Up An Ice Cream Surprise An Optalis residential care home in Maidenhead has surprised its residents with an ice cream treat, after months in isolation due to the coronavirus outbreak. Staff at Homeside Close, who provide support for up to eight people with learning disabilities, transformed one of the mini-bus vehicles into an ice cream van and parked it outside the home, providing everyone with some typically British childhood nostalgia.

The idea came from a member of the care team, who was shielding at the time, but wanted to do something to keep morale up during this worrying time.

Customers living in Homeside Close were expecting to play a game of bingo outside, but instead were greeted by an Optalis ice cream van playing the ice cream van chimes.

The ice cream van was decked in bunting and decorations made by staff and residents too, without knowing they were preparing for an afternoon of fun.

Assistant Team Manager, Zuzana Kurbally, was overjoyed by everyone’s reactions, she said: “They were absolutely delighted when they found out they had their very own ice cream van. They haven’t stopped talking about the experience and were absolutely thrilled that they had an afternoon treat.

“The original idea was to have an ice cream trolley in the home, but staff wanted to make it a bigger event,

which they now call the isolation ice cream station.

“The people we support are coping fantastically well in the circumstances, so I thought it would be a nice idea to do something fun for them and thank them for all their patience during this difficult time.”

The team at Homeside have been preparing for three weeks, gathering resident’s favourite ice cream flavours, all while preparing for the big reveal.

The surprise was a huge success and the team have since received numerous requests from customers to do this again in the upcoming months.

Dorothy Ives, who has been a Resident at Sutherland Court since January 2013, celebrated her 102nd birthday surrounded by balloons, cards and her most favourite thing, chocolate.

Dorothy still loves to have a game of bingo with a cup of tea and even though she is 102, staff often say she will give you a piece of her mind if she thinks you have stepped out of line.

Most of all, Dorothy loves her cuddles and kisses and says her secret to long life is ‘being nice and king to people and most importantly, to be happy.’

Dorothy was treated to some lovely cake as staff and Residents sang happy birthday to her.

The home celebrated its second 102nd in two weeks, after Resident Dorothy hit the milestone on May 15th. On June 2nd, it was Betty Plumley’s turn.

Sutherland Court’s very own Queen Elizabeth, Betty Plumley, also celebrated with staff and surrounded by balloons as she proudly showed everyone her letters from the Queen herself. Betty was also treated to some lovely cards and her favourite thing, Maltesers.

Betty loves her chocolate and cakes but most of all she loves dogs, so the team at the home can’t wait for the dogs to be allowed to come back into the home, where she can give them a big hug again.

Sutherland Court Home Manager, Judith Snowden said: “It was amazing seeing Dorothy and Betty enjoying thier special day.”

Council Accused Of “Underhand” Tactics with Care Sector

C O ATA FR U L E T O E N G O U W E !

A group representing some of the city’s most prominent care homes has slammed Sheffield City Council’s “underhand tactics” which they say continue to deny those caring for most vulnerable of funding allocated by Central Government.

Representatives of the Sheffield Care Association were last week hopeful that dialogue started with the Town Hall would be the beginning of a process that would address years of underfunding; cut needless red tape and allow them to receive their promised share of the £1.6bn funding package provided centrally to tackle the Covid 19 crisis.

Late on Friday afternoon last week, city officials rowed back on pledges not to make a Google Form requesting sensitive information mandatory, giving care homes just a matter of hours to complete a complex form to access government money.

Roy Young, managing director of Silver Healthcare that operates two homes in the city, said: “Sheffield City Council’s behavior in the midst of the biggest crisis the city’s independent care sector has ever faced continues to be underhand, disrespectful and insulting. They’ve delayed monies that have been promised to us by Central Government and they’re putting homes under yet more pressure by effectively means testing them with demands for reams of financially sensitive information – despite going on the record and denying they would do that.

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“Other boroughs simply provide care homes with the Governement funding that’s allocated to them – why can’t Sheffield?”

Nicola Richards, chair of the Sheffield Care Association, said: “Care homes in Sheffield have been in a fragile state for a number of years and this was before the Covid 19 crisis began. Recent events have put us under intense pressure and the Association is extremely concerned that care homes will soon face closure.

“The people this will affect hardest are the most vulnerable in our communities – our residents. It will also have a huge impact on our dedicated and loyal staff who have worked miracles during the COVID-19 response.

“We need a cast iron commitment from the Council to guarantee funding levels, protect our services and an independent review of the cost of care in the city.”

Sheffield Care Association’s ‘End The Care Crisis in Sheffield’ petition has now amassed nearly 1,000 signatures with support continuing to grow on a daily basis.

Roy Young added: “We started this petition to highlight the long standing injustices the care sector in Sheffield has been suffering. Modern day care workers are fully trained and highly skilled individuals. No longer is it acceptable for them to receive minimum wage – it’s about time they got a payrise in line with the real living wage and, as a result, the recognition they deserve.”

PAGE 30 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Handwashing Gadget Launches To Help Care Homes

A motion-sensing gadget is launching to help and encourage better hand washing habits.

Wavewash can be fitted above sinks in any business, home, or healthcare premises, reminding people to wash their hands more thoroughly and helping them to achieve a 20 second wash every time.

Wavewash is intended for use in a wide range of businesses to help staff, customers or patients to wash their hands more thoroughly and meet their obligations under government guidelines. The product can also be especially useful in healthcare premises such as care homes where hygiene is crucial.

Once activated with a wave of the hand, Wavewash begins a light-up timer to indicate how long a person should continue washing their hands.

The 20 second timer gives users a clear indication of how long they need to wash, as recommended by the NHS and the government.

Under the government’s recently published COVID-19 guidance for employers (www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplaceduring-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance), employers should advise workers to regularly wash their hands for 20 seconds and they should consider providing any additional facilities needed to do so.

To help healthcare providers such as care homes to protect patients and staff from coronavirus, 100 Wavewash units are being offered to selected organisations in the sector, free of charge.

As well as being used in healthcare premises, Wavewash can be used in the toilets of pubs, cafes and restaurants to improve hygiene and reduce the spread of germs and viruses. It can also be used by businesses involved in food processing and preparation, where hand hygiene is essential.

Health authorities around the world, including Public Health England and the NHS recommend that everyone should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water to easily and effectively kill the

microorganisms which can cause illness, including COVID-19 coronavirus.

Wavewash partner, Martin Hurworth said: “Health authorities around the world are urging us to wash our hands for 20 second using soap and water every time as it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways we can avoid getting sick and spreading germs and viruses to others.

“Unfortunately, accurately counting to 20 seconds is actually pretty hard, even if you sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice and lots of people cut corners and forget to wash their hands for that long… and, of course, some people overlook washing their hands completely, which is disgusting.

“Wavewash aims to solve all of these problems. It’s a smart but noticeable device which reminds people to wash their hands better and helps them to do it.

“Telling people to wash their hands more thoroughly can work, but positive reinforcement, timely reminders and a little help can work so much better at nudging us into doing the right thing. I believe that Wavewash can make a real difference in getting everyone to wash their hands properly, helping to prevent the spread of germs and illnesses” The device has been designed to help all businesses, including those in healthcare to comply with governmental guidelines for hygiene and for the prevention and control of infections. As a result, Wavewash is intended to play a major role in helping businesses to prepare for life after the nationwide lockdown comes to an end, when good hand hygiene is expected to be crucial.

As part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s social distancing guidelines (www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-inthe-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance), every business is expected to advise workers to wash their hands using soap and water for 20 seconds regularly, and should consider providing additional facilities to help with this. Wavewash can help companies towards fulfill-

ing these requirements, reminding workers to wash their hands thoroughly and helping them to wash for 20 seconds every time.

Wavewash’s smart design and simple interface also makes it ideal for the home, helping parents and children to clean their hands and keep one another safe.

Wavewash has been developed by a team of British engineers who were inspired after speaking to doctors and nurses about the problems caused by people failing to properly wash their hands in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

The gadget is a simple tech solution which works using a non-contact sensor, so there’s no need to touch the device at all. It can also be fitted to virtually any surface using screws or a self-adhesive pad which are included and its smooth surface avoids the build-up of dirt and germs.

While washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is advised by the NHS (www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-towash-your-hands), Public Health England (www.gov.uk/government/news/public-information-campaign-focuseson-handwashing) and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html). Studies have shown that a 20-second hand wash with liquid soap is enough to effectively remove dirt, organic matter and most transient microorganisms which are acquired through direct contact with a person and from the environment.

Hand washing can minimise the spread of illnesses including influenza (annals.org/aim/fullarticle/744899/facemasks-hand-hygiene-preventinfluenza-transmission-households-cluster-randomized-trial), diarrhea and respiratory infections, and governments around the world recommend it as a central part of their advice to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) (www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/). Hand washing also reduces the risk of food poisoning (www.nhs.uk/livewell/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands).

However, recent studies have suggested that just 5% of people wash their hands for long enough (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23621052), with the average wash lasting only six seconds.

Wavewash is inspired by the ‘nudge theory’ of behavioural science which is widely used by governments and public health bodies. The concept is that individuals are more likely to make particular choices or behave in a certain way if they are positively encouraged and supported to make it through indirect suggestions, rather than coercion or education.

The makers of Wavewash hope that the device will lead to more people thoroughly washing their hands in future, helping to make 20 secondlong hand washing a permanent habit.

Wavewash is available for purchase now. Visit www.wavewash.co.uk for more information or call 01603 343 727.

stop the spread of Covid-19

Traditional sanitisers only kill germs at the moment of use so as soon as contact is made with another contaminated surface your protection has gone. OneSpray sanitisers powered by Zoono techology provide antiviral protection for your Staff and Residents up to 24 hours on skin and up to 30 days on all surfaces.

The Products

The Technology

OneSpray sanitisers significantly reduces the spread of harmful bacteria, viruses (including coronavirus), fungi, mould and yeast.

The revolutionary technology lasts up to 30 days on surfaces and up to 24 hours on skin.

OneSpray incorporates Zoono technology a mono-molecular layer of antimicrobial, silane based polymers that form a barrier of positively charged microscopic ‘pins’ on the surface. These positively charged ‘pins’ attract and pierce the negatively charged pathogens.

The ‘pins’ rupture the cell walls and this causes the pathogen to break up with lethal effect.

Plus the long-lasting bonding capabilities mean it doesn’t wash off so you can repeatedly wash your hands and wipe surfaces down without reducing its efficacy.

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One application of OneSpray Hand Sanitiser in the morning provides an antibacterial protective layer all day so you can relax, knowing you’re protected.

Using OneSpray after you clean gives you germ-free surfaces door handles, light switches etc. for up to 30 days.

When applied to a surface, OneSpray leaves behind a mono molecular layer that permanently bonds to the surface, Routine cleaning or handwashing does not disrupt the molecule or its antimicrobial activity.

OneSpray is water based, alcohol free and free from dangerous chemicals.

This is truly the next generation of antimicrobial technology.

Zoono has over 150 worldwide laboratory testing reports supporting the efficacy of their products.

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OneSpray is successfully used in London Underground, Network Rail, Offices, Vehicles, Shipping, Care Homes and Hospitals in fact anywhere where there is a risk of infection.

To find out more about how OneSpray can help your Home in the fight against Covid-19 and a host of other harmful pathogens call 020 340 41521 now or email carehomes@onespray.com

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PAGE 32 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL Free Coronavirus Awareness Face Shields In Stock Now Video by iHASCO iHASCO , a market-leading provider of workplace eLearning, have released a free Coronavirus awareness video to help offer organisations and the general public practical advice on what Coronavirus is, how to reduce the risk of the virus spreading and what to do if you’re showing symptoms. This free resource is for anyone wishing to find out more about Coronavirus and how to minimise its impact. Employers can now, in under 10 minutes, provide a short video to all of their employees, spread awareness and help them understand best hygiene practices.

Access the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrpfmnOnpc or visit the free resource page on the iHASCO website at www.ihasco.co.uk/blog/entry/2716/covid-19.

The free video contains information gathered from the NHS, the Direct Gov website, The World Health Organization, and it also includes a few useful tips from iHASCO’s Infection Prevention & Control course.

As a leading provider of online Health & Safety, HR and Business Compliance training, iHASCO offers quality online training courses to over 10,000 UK businesses. With this in mind iHASCO felt it their duty to share this information in a short video.

Face Shields are now in full production and available for delivery from Numatic International, home of the famous Henry vacuum.

Manufactured in the UK, the Face Shield offers a simple, comfortable and reusable solution. We are prioritising dispatch of these Face Shields to Healthcare settings, including Care Homes.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have urgently re-tasked our Design & Manufacturing Teams to deliver a Non-profit PPE initiative, supplying PPE to those that need it as quickly as possible.

For more information and to order: Call: 01460 269270 Email: PPE@numatic.co.uk Visit: www.numaticsupport.com/faceshield

“Being Health & Safety training experts, we have a duty to play our part in raising awareness to help reduce the risk of infection spread and keep people safe,” says Nathan Pitman, Director at iHASCO. “We know how to source quality information and present it in an engaging way to ensure the learner takes away the key points. Rather than focus on panic and frightening news headlines we want to provide information that is of use and provide practical steps organisations and the general public can digest, despite the uncertainty of things to come.

Visit www.ihasco.co.uk for further information.

Fight Back Against Bacteria and Viruses If the global COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it's that good personal and environmental hygiene and a deeper understanding of cleaning procedures is of the utmost importance in controlling the spread of pathogens.

We know that having a thorough cleaning regime and the right cleaning equipment is important but how do you know which equipment is right and what a thorough clean actually is?

Understanding more about the potential pathogens is a good place to start. Firstly, do you know what the difference is between antibacterial and antimicrobial? An antimicrobial agent protects against various types of microbes, including bacteria, viruses, mould and fungi, whereas an antibacterial specifically protects against bacteria.

Knowing which products are best to use alongside chemicals, as manual cleaning is still vital, is also key.

Some pathogens survive in different

conditions for different lengths of time and variations in temperature.

For example, did you know, MRSA can survive up to 8 weeks on a mop head and 7 months on dust?

Listeria Monocytogenes, (aka Listeria) which is known to cause fever, diarrhoea and can even affect your nervous system, is what is known as a resilient bacterium.

That means it can harbour on seemingly clean surfaces and create a protective biofilm over itself that chemicals alone cannot remove. This is where the right cleaning equipment comes into play.

Using a high-quality brush alongside the correct chemicals when cleaning will allow filaments to get into the crevices where bacteria may be harbouring and clean it away, creating a hygienic surface.

For more information about the highest quality, anti-microbial brushes available for the job, visit https://bit.ly/39oRq5r or call +44 (0)17 4786 0494

Proven Technology Offers Greater Protection for Staff and Residents Against Covid-19

Care Homes are having to work around the clock to ensure their facilities are as clean and infection-free as possible, to try and prevent Covid-19 (and multiple other viruses and harmful bacteria) from entering their facility in the first place or containing it once it does.

However, routine cleaning and disinfection, even with the use of other hand sanitisers and antibacterial surface cleaners, only sanitises the individual or surface for that moment in time, i.e. as soon as contact is made with an infected surface or introduced from the outside, the area or the person is no longer safe.

In the tight confines of a Care Home, supporting one of the most vulnerable groups, cross infection via surface contamination is a major challenge. The transient nature of current cleaning regimes will always prove challenging, particularly as over 80% of germs are spread by hands.

Now a proven, independently accredited technology that offers a protective barrier wherever there is a risk of infection is at the forefront of preventing and protecting against the spread of Covid-19.

Once applied it stays active, providing up to 30 days protection on surfaces and 24 hours on the skin. In a

Care Home, this can dramatically reduce the chances of encountering a crisis by reducing the spread of dangerous pathogens either by hand or touch.

OneSpray’s Hand Sanitiser offers 24 hours protection with one application, contains no alcohol, is ultragentle on the skin and won’t wash off during normal daily washing. This means it is very economical to use versus alcohol-based sanitisers, given that typically one person will apply those sanitisers up to 10 times per day.

OneSpray’s Surface Sanitiser offers protection on nearly all surfaces including door handles, desks, door entry systems and keypads, touchscreens, phones, kitchens and taps. A single application forms an invisible barrier over the surface that lasts up to 30 days and will not wash off so normal, daily cleaning can continue.

OneSpray products incorporate Zoono technology, world leaders in antimicrobial protection. Over 150 worldwide laboratory testing reports support the efficacy of their products.

In earlier trials for London Underground a treated train came back 99.9% clear after 28 days of uninterrupted service.

OneSpray is offering a Starter Outbreak-Prevention Package, specifically for Care Homes. It consists of a 5-litre Hand Sanitiser with two 1-litre dispensers, plus a 5-litre Surface Cleaner with two 500ml spray bottles.

For more information contact 07811113108 or email russell@onespray.com or see the advert on page 8.

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 33

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL

Haigh Engineering Resident and patient waste is a day to day practical matter that simply cannot become a problem for frontline carers and nursing staff.

With the raised awareness of cross infection risks, the proven reliable waste disposal systems from Haigh are recognised more than ever as being a key part of the toolkit for ensuring that human waste is effectively and efficiently removed as a source of risk, day in day out, without the risks and complications of either washing pots or manual bagging waste for collection.

The team from Haigh have been working hard to support this beyond just the manufacture of the

Incomaster and Quattro waste disposers here in the UK, but also developing innovative and safe methods to enhance the servicing provisions that are available to customers.

The recently launched all-inclusive rental proposition has proven particularly effective and popular with new and existing customers alike, not least as it reduces the operational, maintenance and financing headaches from sites which have more critical matters to address.

For more information about incontinence and bedpan waste disposal please feel free to contact the Haigh team on 01989 763131 or info@haigh.co.uk

Reduce Cross-Infection with Dorgard

As a measure to reduce the risk of cross infection care settings may introduce increased cleaning routines, but managing this with the increased workload can be difficult and easily overlooked. Preventing cross infection amongst residents and staff in care and nursing homes has never been more important. Staff may be concerned that contact with door handles and hand plates could increase the risk of spreading the coronavirus and finding a legal solution to hold your fire door open has never been more pressing than now.

Dorgard Original and Dorgard SmartSound can offer you a quick and cost effective solution to this pressing dilemma. They can be fitted to your existing fire doors by your own handyman in around ten minutes, providing you with an effective solution to reduce the risks of cross infection. Once fitted, these fire door holders will hold

your fire door in the open position with the help of a foot plunger. The devices will constantly ‘listen’ for the sound of your fire alarm and on hearing it the Dorgard will automatically lift the plunger and allow the door closer, fitted as standard to all fire doors, to close the door, ensuring fire safety is maintained.

By holding fire doors open in this way you remove the need for your staff to touch door handles and hand plates, reducing the risk of germs and viruses spreading. You can programme the Dorgard to automatically close at night should you require this.

If you would like to know more about how Dorgard can help you meet your legal fire safety requirements and reduce the risk of cross infection, call our customer care team today 0800 612 6537 or visit www.safelincs.co.uk or see the advert on page 18.

How Best To Assist With Limiting The Transmission Of Airborne Viruses Care homes and hospitals have been of particular focus in the news recently and how best to assist with limiting the transmission of airborne viruses within these establishments.

This is part of the greater discussion around Indoor Air Quality and how we can protect people who are working, studying or being cared for in increasingly airtight buildings for the majority of their day.

Humidity control as part of the Indoor Air Quality discussion is very much part of the debate as we try to replicate good quality fresh air in our homes and buildings irrespective of the outside air quality, whilst being conscious of energy usage which could put greater pressure on climate change.

The benefits of humidity control are well documented - creating a more comfortable condition, adding to thermal comfort and importantly reducing the transmission of bacteria and viruses.

Scientific data does show that to maintain a humidity of 50%rh will reduce the transmission of viruses by keeping the bodies defence mechanism (mucus membrane in the nose and throat) moist and able to capture airborne bacteria and virus before it enters the body.

Maintaining a relative humidity (RH) between 30-60% has been shown to influence the survivorship of viruses and reduce the transmission and infectiousness of viral diseases.

More recent studies have taken aim at the influence of relative humidity (RH) on specific families of viruses,

• While coronaviruses are durable on surfaces relative to influenza viruses, survival rates are reduced at moderate RH of 50%. (Casanova et al., 2010) • The infectiousness of airborne influenza viruses was significantly reduced when RH was above 40% (Noti et al., 2013) • Humidification in homes can reduce survival of influenza and promote recovery, by improving restfulness, in sick individuals (Myatt et al., 2010) • Maintaining 40-45% RH in hospitals reduced perceived air dryness and airway symptoms of patients and hospital staff (Nordström et al., 1994).

Figure 1: Effect of pathogens, microbes, and environmental contaminants on human beings. From Sterling et al. (1985).

like influenza and coronavirus. These studies focus on the observed survival on surfaces and in the air column, and the rates of infection under different environmental conditions. Below we outline key findings from commonly referenced or recent studies. Links to the studies are posted as well.

• Maintaining an indoor relative humidity between 40%60% may help to limit the spread and survival of novel coronavirus. Humidification maintains hydrated and intact mucosal barriers of human occupants, resulting in an increase resistance against any microbial attack. (Dietz et al., 2020).

So, where a humidity control system is not already in place in a facility, is there a practical solution to retro fit into the office, care home, classroom etc? Mobile humidifiers can be used but they do require regular manual filling and take up floor space.

Commercial systems can be installed into the fresh air supply (AHU), but sometimes this is not possible, or such a system is not already installed into the building.

One excellent solution is to use the HomEvap, a cold water evaporative humidifier, which can be fitted to a heat recovery unit in a house or supplied with a fan to be neatly installed above a false ceiling in an office – out of the way, plumbed in, and providing excellent control automatically. Energy usage ranges between 20 -90 watts dependant on if you require a fan or not. A

single humidifier can evaporate 5 litres of water per hour which will provide humidity control to a space with a volume of approximately 1200m3. The result is a comfortable, healthier environment for net zero energy usage (temperature can be reduced by 2⁰C when the humidity is raised from 30 – 50%rh for the same thermal comfort).

In a care home the solution is often not to put the humidifier in the day room or bedrooms but to control the humidity in corridors serving these rooms and to allow the humidity to migrate to the areas of concern.

This way there is no noise issue (although very low in a bedroom a small fan can still be a nuisance) and maintenance when required does not disturb the occupant of the room.

Humidity Solutions Ltd has a wealth of experience, expertise and application knowledge in the field of humidity control please do contact us for free advice. www.humiditysolutions.co.uk info@humiditysolutions.co.uk

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 35

HYGIENE & INFECTION CONTROL How Do You Control The Spread Of Infection?

The severity of any build up of bacteria or pathogen could be fatal. At SFS Protect, high standards of hygiene are recognised and paramount to the ethos of our service.

No sprays, no wipes, just vaporised Hydrogen Peroxide. The Nocospray 2, has been carefully developed around a heating and ionising turbine that transforms and emits the Nocolyse disinfectant into a non-corrosive, non allergenic, bio degradable gas – with no residue.

mint fragrance or with essential oils, should there be a requirement to remove odours. All Nocolyse gas when evenly distributed throughout isolated areas will eliminate dangerous viruses such as MRSA, Clostridium difficile, Norovirus, CPE, Coronavirus.

In relation to the current Pandemic COVID-19 Coronavirus, our “Oxypharm One Shot” has now been fully accredited and a full copy of this declaration is available on our web site.

THE PRODUCTS The Nocospray 2 will eliminate 99.99% of all bacteria in as little time as 90 minutes. There is no requirement for the removal of electrical equipment, furniture, fixtures and fittings, just the room to be completely sealed for the gas to work effectively.

Services At SFS, we offer 2 types of service.

Curative “One Shot” Disinfection is where there is a known or recurring problem.

Preventative Decontamination Disinfection is to maintain good levels of infection control. The “Decontimination” range is also available with a mild

OUR MISSION SFS Protect are dedicated to providing a caring and discreet service. Our mission is simple, to provide a safe and comfortable environment to work, play, learn and relax without the fear of contracting harmful viruses, bacteria and fungi.

TESTIMONIAL “SFS Protect are working with us to keep our employees safe by fumigating areas in any suspected COVID-19 cases. The team deliver a professional and efficient service, provide excellent technical support and respond quickly to any fumigation requests. Callout requests are fulfilled within 24 hours, leaving areas safe to return to within 40minutes of any suspected cases.”

Book now on 07468 428530, email info@sfsprotect.co.uk or visit www.sfsprotect.co.uk

JET - A Powerful Sporicidal Disinfectant JET is a powerful sporicidal disinfectant for use on non-porous high-touch surfaces.

JET is also a powerful cleaner destroying RNA and DNA in seconds. Its cleaning efficacy meets the requirements of a medical instrument cleaner, effectively reducing levels of protein and carbohydrate.

JET is the best safeguard for residents and staff wherever the risks of infection are highest and is ideal for use in care homes.

JET is sporicidal, mycobactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal and bactericidal in one minute. It has been tested in accredited laboratories and is proven effective against a wide range of microorganisms.

DOOR FRAMES & HANDLES

JET is built upon the same core chlorine dioxide technology as the Tristel medical device disinfectant products, but specially adapted for surface disinfection where cleaning and biofilm destruction are so important.

Chlorine dioxide is widely regarded as one of the most effective disinfectants for biofilm removal and prevention. JET delivers chlorine dioxide as a foam. It creates no aerosols when used.

Efficacy with the standard wipe in EN16615 means JET can be used with any sustainably sourced wipe, avoiding the use and waste of plastic wipes.

Find out more: BIT.LY/JETCH20

CHAIRS & WORK SURFACES

BEDS & BEDSIDE TABLES

FACE SHIELDS

Clean Care Is In Your Hands Skin health and surface hygiene expert, GOJO Industries-Europe Ltd, has backed the World Health Organisation’s global call to action for health workers.

The worldwide advocacy day for Hand Hygiene falls annually on 5th May, and this year its importance is even more significant, as the world battles COVID-19.

As a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Private Organizations for Patient Safety group, GOJO Industries-Europe has always been a strong advocate of making hand hygiene second nature to everyone.

Once again, GOJO is supporting the WHO’s annual ‘Save Lives: Clean Your Hands’ campaign and encouraging everybody in the healthcare industry to get involved.

As the World Health Assembly has designated 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, the campaign’s focus this year is on the central role played by nurses and midwives in achieving clean care. This includes hand hygiene best practices, as well as recognising their crucial contribution to strengthening quality health systems.

The annual campaign and advocacy day targets a crosssection of influencers in the global healthcare sector, calling them to join together in celebrating and empowering nurses and midwives in the monumental work that they do to keep patients, families, and colleagues safe, by preventing healthcare associated infections.

This year’s specific calls to action are: • Nurses: “Clean and safe care starts with you.”

• Midwives: “Your hands make all the difference for mothers and babies.”

• Policy Makers: “Increase nurse staffing levels to prevent infections and improve quality of care. Create the means to

empower nurses and midwives.”

• Infection Prevention Control Leaders: "Empower nurses and midwives in providing clean care.”

• Patients and Families: "Safer care for you, with you.”

Chris Wakefield, Vice President, European Marketing & Product Development, GOJO IndustriesEurope Ltd comments, ‘Nurses and midwives account for nearly 50% of the global health workforce1 and play a vital role in providing health services and meeting everyday essential health needs. At GOJO, saving lives and making life better through well-being solutions is our mission and it continues to inspire our deep commitment to improving hand hygiene. In partnership with healthcare managers, we can help implement a tailored, effective, and total solution, which promotes compliant and healthy hand hygiene behaviour.

‘We are proud and loyal supporters of the WHO’s “Save Lives – Clean Your Hands” campaign, and urge everyone in the healthcare industry to join together in support of hand hygiene improvement globally.’

Free advocacy toolkits to support the WHO Save Lives: Clean Your Hands campaign are available on the WHO website: www.who.int/infectionprevention/campaigns/cleanhands/en/ WHO invites everyone to use the hashtags #SupportNursesAndMidwives #HandHygiene #InfectionPrevention on social media to ensure Save Lives: Clean Your Hands posts are picked up by the campaign.

For more information, email infouk@GOJO.com or visit www.GOJO.com 1 https://www.who.int/news-room/ fact-sheets/detail/nursing-and-midwifery

Please mention THE CARER when responding to advertising.

PAGE 36 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES New Guides To Supercharge Your Care Home Management Calibre Audio - Unleash the Power of Your Imagination Is continued customer satisfaction important to you? Could your communications with residents and their loved ones be improved? Does your care home's website need to be brought into the 2020's? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you will be pleased to learn about a series of free expert guides for care home managers and owners.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched a series of guides for the care home industry. These guides provide you with specialist advice on fair trading practices, complaints procedures, communications methods and website layouts

for care homes written by and for those working in the care homes sector.

UK consumer law is among the best in the world, but this also means that it can be complicated and in-depth. Care home regulations are no exception, and you may be overwhelmed by it all. These guides make it simple and straightforward so that you can avoid the regulatory pitfalls and improve your business for the good of you and your residents.

The guides are hosted on Business Companion, a government-backed website containing a wealth of in-depth knowledge on every element of consumer protection written by industry experts in every sector.

Download your free guides at: www.businesscompanion.info/focus

CareZips™ Dignity Trousers CareZips™ are adaptive dignity trousers that preserve the privacy of people receiving care during diaper changes.

Fitted with unique 3-zip fastening system, the CareZips™ make changing of incontinence diapers more dignified and comfortable for the patients and easier and faster for the carers.

CareZips™ feature 3 strategically positioned zips, 2 of which run from the waist to the knees on both sides of the body. The 3rd zip goes from the inside of one knee up to the crotch and down to the knee again on the inside of the other leg. This allows total opening of the trousers at the crotch for diaper changes. The

3-zip system facilitates fast and easy access to the abdomen and crotch without having to undress the patient or pull trousers down.

CareZips™ are suitable for men and women. They are available in 7 sizes for perfect fit. CareZips™ are soft and wrinkle resistant with stretch and give for extra comfort. Practical, washable and non-iron, the CareZips™ trousers are the best choice for daily use.

When worn over soft hip protectors, such as HipSaver QuickChange or OpenBottom, the CareZips™ contribute to prevention of fall-related hip fractures.

Contact Win Health Medical Ltd 01835 864866 - www.win-health.com or see the advert on page 7.

The Oxford Up from Joerns Healthcare floor surfaces and ensures minimal exertion on the part of the caregiver.

As with all Oxford products, injury reduction, fall prevention and ergonomic principles were fundamental considerations during the Up’s development phase. Perfect positioning of both the swing-away seat pads and knee support help ensure optimum patient positioning. Adjustable leg positioning and a contoured base allow excellent access for the patient and promotes better posture and ease of use.

Contact Joerns Healthcare for more information on 0844 811 1156, send an email to info@joerns.co.uk or visit our website at www.joerns.co.uk

The Oxford Up, from Joerns Healthcare is a manual stand-aid and seated transfer device, designed to support easy, safe and efficient patient transfers. Suitable for clients who require some assistance when standing but are able to participate in the process, the Up can play a key role in patient rehabilitation and promoting on-going independence.

Manufactured from aluminium and weighing just 22.5kg, the Up is among the lightest and most nimble in its category; but don’t be fooled, a maximum safe working load of 200kg (31st) also places it among the elite. Highgrade castors offer outstanding manoeuvrability across a range of

New Skincare and Incontinence Leaflet A new ‘Skincare management in incontinence’ leaflet is available from Thornton & Ross Pharmaceuticals – manufacturers of Zerolon® Barrier Cream. Accredited by the Association for Continence Advice (ACA), the leaflet is designed as a quick guide for all health professionals involved with continence care. Including recommendations from NICE, the leaflet also outlines factors to consider when selecting a barrier cream and advice on helping prevent incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD).

Zerolon® Barrier Cream is the latest addition to the Zeroderma emollients and barrier creams range, specially formulated to prevent irritation from bodily fluids including urine, faeces and exudate.

To receive a free copy of the ‘Skincare management in incontinence’ leaflet, please email: zeroderma@thorntonross.com, email: 01484 842217 or www.zeroderma.co.uk

Ultimate Comfort For Extra-Wide Swollen Feet materials, expert shoemaking and advanced foot comDo you, or a loved one, struggle to find shoes or slipfort technology. It’s also why they’re recommended by pers to fit? Cosyfeet, the specialists in extra roomy over 11,000 healthcare professionals. footwear, can help. Wider and deeper than anything on The beauty of their footwear is in its simplicity. They the high street, their British designed footwear is expertly offer a roomy, one width fitting which can be adjusted to crafted to fit and flatter extra wide and swollen feet. fit a range of swelling, so you don’t have to worry about Their new spring collection includes a fabulous range complicated foot measurements. of fabric footwear in an array of exciting patterns and Lots of thought goes into Cosyfeet’s designs, includprints. Enjoy spot on style with their lovely polka dot ing minimal seams, easy openings and removable print or explore their collection of animal prints including footbeds so you can even wear your own orthotic. stylish zebra, fashionable snake and on-trend leopard.

Thanks to innovations such as Soft yet supportive, these their ‘Hidden Depth’ design, comfy styles are perfect for Cosyfeet fits swollen feet with relaxing at home. You’ll also STYLES FOR ease but still looks stylish and find a great choice of cottonMEN & streamlined. rich slippers which are ideal for WOMEN Cosyfeet offer VAT exemption the warmer months or if you STYLES SHOWN: Koryl, Katie, if you have a chronic medical suffer with hot feet.

Kama condition and a money-back Cosyfeet’s ethos is simple. guarantee if their footwear doesThey believe that swollen feet n’t work for you. should have the most comfortFor more information visit able, stylish footwear possible. cosyfeet.com or call Cosyfeet on That’s why they combine the VISIT cosyfeet.com 01458 447275. latest trends with premium

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Calibre Audio is a free national charity that lends audiobooks to everyone who has a print disability.

A print disability is most commonly a sight problem, dyslexia or a condition that makes it hard to hold or understand printed. Audiobooks offer a way to overcome difficulties such as these, so that you can consume books the same as others, just in a different way – audio.

Calibre Audio has thousands of audiobooks in its collection, with so many categories catering for all ages and tastes. No one needs to miss out on the pleasure of a good book. Calibre Audio’s collection There are well over 11,000 unabridged audiobooks on

Calibre’s shelves. Titles cover all fiction and non-fiction genres, including bestsellers, classic novels, modern fiction and popular non-fiction.

Calibre’s audiobooks can be streamed online, downloaded to your device or delivered straight to your door on CD and memory stick by our free postal service. Which means whether you’re listening from your favourite armchair or in your garden, unleash the power of your imagination.

‘Being a member of Calibre has given me a chance to read and enjoy books that I wouldn't have otherwise had a chance to read.’

Join and get listening! It is free

Lotus Care Technology The NurseAlert pressure mat has been one of the most successful floor pressure mats due to it being non slip and carpeted which makes it feel very natural under a residents foot.

Lotus Care Technology Ltd have many other fall saving devices that can give you peace of mind whilst caring for

for everyone with a print disability to join Calibre Audio.

Go online at www.calibreaudio.org.uk or call membership services on 01296 432 339 for more information.

See the advert on page 16 for details.

this at risk of falls.

Having many years of experience in fitting and maintaining Nurse Call Systems helps the guys at Lotus Care Technology understand that every home is different and has different needs. They can specify not only the best system for the environmental factors in the home but also take into consideration the best products that will make your carers and nurses jobs that little bit easier.

Visit lctuk.com or see the advert on page 17 for details.

COVID-19 Game Raising Awareness To Promote Safe Behaviour Because COVID-19 is causing confusion and anxiety Focus Games has developed a simple online COVID-19 Game that offers the facts and challenges myths (from UK government and NHS). It's free-to-play and works on any device through a web browser. It only takes couple of minutes and there is no registration required.

The game is intended for anyone and everyone: https://games.focusgames.co.uk/coronavirus/game/ The game is being played by adults and older children and here is feedback from a teacher in Egypt: “I teach grade 8 students (14 years). My students are in COVID-19 isolation and their response to eLearning was disappointing. I needed to attract their attention. We were exploring diseases in populations and I sent them the COVID-19 Game. It was like magic!

Within 2 hours they were sending selfies of their scores, encouraging others to play and sharing information. The students were engaged, they learned and were entertained. Thank you.” Haidy Wael, Science Teacher, Egypt.

The game is based on similar health education games: Flu Bee Game and

Dementia Awareness Game. Both games were investigated by Queen’s University Belfast and within the NHS and they concluded that the games can and do change perceptions and behaviour.

So, it is hoped that the COVID-19 Game will have a positive effect on some members of the public. Here is a comment regarding the Dementia Awareness Game from Dr Gillian Carter, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen's University Belfast: “The dementia awareness game has been played over 1,000 times and research conducted by Queen's University Belfast on its impact shows that after playing the game, a person's attitudes to people living with dementia improve! This statistically significant information is being prepared for an international journal” For further information, please contact: Andy Yeoman – Director, Focus Games Ltd andy@focusgames.com +44 (0)141 554 5476 games.focusgames.co.uk/coron-

Workwear Experts For Over 100 Years Grahame Gardner has more than 100 years’ experience in clothing a broad spectrum of medical and healthcare professionals. Our knowledge and understanding of uniform demands ensure we remain one the UK’s most trusted and respected suppliers. We combine our extensive expertise with the latest innovations in technology and fabric and design, to offer you the highest quality garments to meet the demanding standards of healthcare professionals… all at exceptional prices!

We also provide one of the most flexible embroidery services available from any clothing manufacturer using state-of-theart technologies that enable us to copy virtually any design or

logo directly onto your chosen uniforms.

Whether you’re seeking a classic healthcare dress or tunic, or something from our bold and bright scrubwear range, you can find it with us. As one of the largest workwear providers in the UK, we are proud to be able to offer instant stock availability on 1,000s of workwear garments all in addition to our extensive range of ‘made to order’ items that can be manufactured on demand in a wide range of styles, fabrics and colours.

To find out more, or for a no obligation discussion as to how we can help with your workwear requirements, please get in touch on 0116 255 6326 or email Info@grahamegardner.co.uk www.grahamegardner.co.uk

Mattress Maintenance Services In order to bring a mattress back into service after use, it needs to be completely cleaned and decontaminated to approved standards that guarantee bacterium and viruses such as C.Diff and MRSA are killed, and no cross contamination occurs.

A challenge with mattress cleaning is not only that it requires large commercial washing machines but that different mattress types also require different treatment.

The right rental and maintenance service will not only provide you with an appropriate mattress when you need it, but offer fast cleaning, repairs, and replacements, ensuring mattresses are up to the required standards. This undoubtedly saves you money in the long term, provides the best possible levels of care to your patients and residents, and reassures all stakeholders that hygiene is a top priority; a must in the current climate.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR? So what should you look for in a rental service – apart from a wide range of special purpose mattresses? Here are a few key pointers: • Rapid breakdown response

• All work carried out by trained technicians • Mattresses returned in fully certified working order with free loans while repairs are carried out to allow you continuity of service • Servicing and/or repair offered in a hygiene controlled environment where mattresses are PAT tested, static pressure leak tested and cycle tested • Mattresses placed in an infection controlled 'Cold Storage' zone to control cross contamination • Mattresses completely cleaned and decontaminated using a specialist, certified decontamination system to approved standards • Transparent and clear results reporting for peace of mind In today’s ever-more pressurised care sector, ondemand mattress rental and maintenance services are playing a growing role in helping providers respond quickly to growing patient and resident intake. This allows you to maintain the highest possible standards of infection control practises in all areas.

Visit www.spearheadhealthcare.com or see the advert on page 4.

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 37

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE CARE VISION – Outstanding Care is at the Heart of Everything We Do At Carevision, outstanding care truly is at the heart of everything they do. They have combined over 40 years of hands on experience running care homes and working with some of the smartest mind in tech, they have created Care Vision - An all-in-one, cloud-based system that incorporates all your care and admin in to one easy to use system. Carers can compile resident notes, health observations and EMAR. Care home managers can manage rotas, accounts, HR and housekeeping tasks and log visitors using the digital visitor book. Residents can use the system to make personal choices on meals and activities and use the app to keep in touch with family and friends.

Rishi Jawaheer, director at Care Vision says “The 100+ care homes that use our

system have seen its benefits – They are saving 2-4 hours of staff hours per resident, per week and they are achieving outstanding CQC results. Carers love it, residents and relatives love it, and care home managers can’t remember how challenging managing a care home was before it.”

Of course, taking on a whole new system can seem daunting, that’s why Care Vision offer minimal investment, all round support and flexible hardware options.

They don’t feel the need for long-term contracts, Rishi says “We have total confidence, once you use Care Vision, you will love it as much as we do.”

The Care Vision team would love to talk to you about what the system can do for you. Contact at info@care-vision.co.uk or call 0208 768 9809.

Lifelong Antimicrobial Product Protection Guaranteed with Pinpoint According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard (QS61), an estimated 300,000 patients a year in England acquire a healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) after spending time being looked after in the NHS. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reports that HCAIs are estimated to cost the NHS approximately £1 billion a year1. These monetary values do not even include the physical and mental health cost to patients and healthcare workers.

HCAIs include a large number of infections, such as the well-known infections caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Clostridium difficile (C.diff) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Guidelines published by organisations like NICE and Public Health England, give detailed instructions on the prevention of these infections in all parts of the health service.

While we have become very familiar with some of the measures that can be taken to reduce the spread of infections like hand washing and wearing appropriate PPE, there are additional technologies that can be used to complement these practices One of these is the introduction of Antimicrobial technology. This technology inhibits the growth of a range of microorganism on the surface of the product.

That is where antimicrobial technology can make a significant difference. Pinpoint Ltd is working with Addmaster, manufacturer of antimicrobial technology

Biomaster, to add an extra product protection to its staff safety systems.

Biomaster is based on silver ion technology and can be added to polymers, textiles, paper, paints and coatings. The antimicrobial features of silver have been known for centuries. Apparently, even Hippocrates discussed the use of silver in wound care in his writings.2 The silver ions in Biomaster work in 3 ways, disrupting the bacteria cell wall, interfereing with the production of enzymes , therefore stopping energy production and. preventing DNA replication Pinpoint incorporates Biomaster Antimicronial Technology into the product of its staff security system including Personal Infrared Transmitters (PITs), call buttons and display units etcThe technology starts to work straight away and is effective 24 hours a day, 7 days a week., and if effective for the life of the product.. It is built-in, doesn’t wash or wear off or leach out. Tested to ISO standard, Biomaster is safe to use can be recycled as normal.

Although this antimicrobial technology makes Pinpoint devices more hygienic by reducing the ability of microbes to grow on the surface, it does not replace standard hygiene protocols.

Visit www.pinpointlimited.com for further details.

1 https://cks.nice.org.uk/healthcare-associatedinfections#!backgroundSub:5 2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_uses_of_silver#History

Please Please mention mention THE THE CARER CARER when when responding responding to to advertising. advertising.

PINPOINT WRISTPIT The WristPIT is a wrist worn Personal Infrared Transmitter designed exclusively for patient use.

The latest call button is recessed and surrounded by a bump guard to prevent false alarms. It is also backward compatible, allowing seamless integration into existing Pinpoint Systems.

DID YOU KNOW? Biomaster Technology is incorporated into all surface areas of the product during manufacture, inhibiting the growth of contaminating bacteria 24/7 for the lifetime of the product.

www.pinpointlimited.com

PAGE 38 | THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Medpage Limited Medpage Limited have manufactured quality affordable caring technologies for over 30 years. We specialise in providing bespoke design and development solutions for patient care.

We were challenged recently to develop an alarm solution for a wandering resident in a care home on a limited budget. The alarm was to operate independently from the house nurse call system and required to send notifica-

tions to the carer mobile phone with time and dated incident reports. This we did with 100% success. The alarm is now a mainstream product sold nationally.

Reassurance and confidence in a supplier is paramount to a successful business relationship, especially where healthcare is concerned.

You can rest assured that when you buy and use our products you are connected with a company with backbone and a passion to offer care technologies that deliver performance and quality.

Visit www.medpage-ltd.com or see the advert on page 2.

Workforce Scheduling Solutions Workforce Scheduling Solutions deliver Electronic Time & Attendance systems worldwide, using the latest Face Recognition technology.

Why should care homes move from paper to electronic time sheets

The industry is under considerable financial pressures. An efficient electronic booking on/off system that will schedule, provide budgets, calculate hours worked, overtime and absence such as sickness and holiday entitlement will save Time and Money.

How is time and money saved by doing things electronically?

Collecting payroll information from paper timesheets can be slow, prone

to errors, and very labour intensive.

Staff rosters can be produced as far in advance as practical and accurate within budgeted hours. Staff book on and off-duty electronically, thus eliminating any time errors.

Wage queries are virtually eliminated and immediate checks can be made without wading through reams of paper which invariably are inaccurate, misfiled or even 'lost".

There are many systems on the market - Why facial recognition is important and how it works Some systems use tokens, which can be lost or left at home, requiring management involvement in the booking on/off procedure.

Fingerprint systems can be beaten and Social media is awash with ways

Edison Telecom

We here at Edison Telecom Ltd have been providing specialist solutions to your call system requirements tailor-made to each customers needs for over 25 years, says director Bob Johnson.

Is your current Nurse Call “legacy”, obsolete, so full of software bugs or commercially not viable for your current supplier/maintainer to maintain?

We may have just the part and expertise that you are looking for to give your nurse call a further extension to

to copy fingerprints. Face recognition combined with a staff PIN is simple to use and manage using touch screen technology and web cams.

Staff see their image displayed immediately when booking on or off and confirms their identity visually.

It provides the best deterrent available as it builds a greater 'image knowledge’ of each employee, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Eliminates 'buddy punching' where employees can book colleagues on/off duty using someone’s tokens, swipe card or even fingerprint.

How is data protected?

With the correct security setup computer systems provide more data protection than paper-based records which can be easily removed or stolen. GDPR covers all data including paper records and therefore the chances of infringing the rules and incurring fines is greater with paper.

Visit www.wfsoftware.co.uk

life, adds Bob, “Edison will treat your nurse call with the same compassion that you give to those in your care.

There will come a time when your equipment is beyond repair but Edison are experts in extending the life of obsolete systems.” www.edisontelecom.co.uk

NURSE CALL

IT’S NOT OBSOLETE UNTIL THE OPERA LADY SINGS

EDISON TELECOM LTD (IN BUSINESS SINCE 1984)

have spares, enhancements and expertise for wired and wireless systems abandoned by the original manufacturer, whoever they are.

Call us on 01252-330220 We can give most systems a new lease of life and maintain them into the future.

www.edisontelecom.co.uk

THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 39

TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE Is This The ‘New Normal’?

With the COVID-19 crisis having such an impact on everyone’s life, is working remotely set to become the new normal? Care services are facing a massive challenge with workers, managers and owners having to isolate. GPs and other health professionals are also trying to avoid unnecessary contact.

Electronic care management systems have helped services meet regulatory guidelines. However this crisis has led to many more benefits becoming apparent.

With CAREis, our customers are giving remote access to GPs to review and leave notes and recommendations. Another service has their therapists working from

home and carrying out consultations remotely using CAREis to review and record their sessions. Managers using the system have reported that they find it reassuring to be able to remotely track and update care provision, audits and action plans. And families have been able to see what has been happening for their loved ones by logging in to the daily diary.

When choosing a new care management system it is important to check that it does everything that you need it to. Does it ensure your care and support is delivered as planned? Does it flag when things are missed? Does it allow remote access to you, your staff and selected professionals? Does it allow you to complete audits and inspection reports? Does it allow you to track and update action plans? Can you plan and track training, and carry out supervisions and appraisals on the system? CAREis does all this and more.

CAREis is easy to install and you can be up and running in a couple of weeks with or new easy start system. We can demo, install and support remotely. If you would like more information, please email us at info@careis.net or call us on 01424 400060

Mainteno Facilities Maintenance and Management Software Whether it’s managing planned maintenance or dealing with fault repairs, Mainteno simplifies the day-to-day maintenance of almost any organisation.

Mainteno also seamlessly incorporates asset management and tracking.

Mainteno streamlines every aspect of the maintenance management process, saving your organisation time and money.

Usability made affordable Mainteno was designed with practicality in mind.

The interface is so intuitive that basic operation can be learned in minutes, and you can be a power user in one afternoon.

Elegant usability usually means a hefty price tag.

However, our pricing structure means that for small

organisations, Mainteno can cost as little as two cups of coffee a month. No set-up fees, no lengthy contracts and a free trial, all mean that the system starts paying for itself straight away.

Dr Asif Raja, Bsc MBBS Summercare Managing Director says “Facing significant challenges of ever increasing quality and compliance demands upon time and resources as well considerable economic pressures, Summercare, an award winning provider of residential care and housing related support, sought to upgrade their systems for managing the property and environmental aspects of its service delivery. After an extensive period of investigation and research Mainteno was selected as the platform of choice for the entire organization based on its ease of use, very short-term contract, quick set up and ongoing support.”

Visit www.mainteno.com, Tel: 020 8798 3713 or email sales@redro.co.uk

Facilities Maintenance and Management Software Simple to use, easy to maintain and very affordable.

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Reporting tasks and faults Asset tracking and value reporting Invoice management Add multiple images and documents Detailed analytical reporting Dashboard reporting showing live status of all tasks Management of all planned maintenance schedules Compliance testing and inspections Traffic light detailed reporting for audit purpose Audit reporting Direct allocation of work to relevant parties Can be used for help desk Supplier performance management and reporting Warranty and insurance management Can be used on any web enabled device Link tasks to calendar Create check lists for compliance purposes Contractor Quotes and Invoice Management Contractor Login upload function

www.mainteno.com 020 8798 3713 sales@redro.co.uk

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 41

TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE Covid19: Accelerating the Use of Digital Technology in Healthcare or Excel so why do many operators still use this method when invoicing?

How many industries with shift workers rely on manual payroll processing outside the care sector?

Repeatable systems should harness the power of technology to cut back the massive waste of man hours spent processing and checking manual tasks.

In order to work out the best technology for your needs, you should assess your current systems against your requirements. Think about what inefficiencies exist in your homes and how you could: 1. Capture relevant information, such as resident/staff details, in a simple, time-efficient way.

2. Manage your documents to ensure that information is dealt with logically.

3. Avoid duplication at all costs; completing handwritten timesheets which then need to be manually inputted into payroll is a massive, unnecessary waste of time & manpower.

4. Address technological obstacles. The perception that your staffs are not IT literate is out of date; most people own a smart phone so yes they are!

See www.fusion4care.com for details.

As this crisis impacts every part of the health sector, significant vulnerabilities are being exposed. The NHS ‘digital revolution’ has long been touted as the key to futureproofing both Social Care and our health service in the face of increasing patient demand. That demand has now reached unprecedented levels and seems unlikely ever to revert to previous trends; against that background; there is an urgent requirement to move quickly to realise the opportunities which are available from digital technology. It is no longer an interesting speculation; it is an essential requirement to support staff and save lives. (Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell)

USING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY Poor efficiencies in many areas of the sector are caused by the lack of investment in technology.

Technology will improve the way your staff carry out tasks by either speed up existing processes or allowing new, more flexible and accurate ways of carrying out a job or process which will in turn enables live real time management information.

Would you expect to check out of a hotel with an invoice and extras raised in Word

Evolving Technologies Technology moves forward at an ever increasing pace and forward thinking Care Homes are ensuring they are keeping in step with the tech.

Quieter and calmer care homes are on the horizon and embracing various technologies can help with getting there.

Smart phone and tablet technologies are a firm fixture in our everyday lives and these are translating into the Care Home landscape. Care Management plans can be developed and improved by collating data from these technologies in extraordinarily fast ways – leaving more time for staff to focus on their jobs and not painful administerial tasks. The information managers receive ensures that they can make informed decisions and keep accurate and safe records without impacting on time spent caring for residents.

Real time alerts can be delivered to mobile tech

– resulting in faster response times. Meaning peace of mind for both staff and residents.

It’s not just the mobile tech revolution that is having an impact on Care Homes. New developments in the field of Acoustic Monitoring are having dramatic impacts on staff and residents.

Acoustic Monitoring has proven capabilities of improving the nights sleep a resident may have and freeing up time for night staff. A recent investigation into the benefits of Acoustic Monitoring has shown that the technology can result in up to 60% fewer nightly disturbances for residents and up to a 70% reduction in nightly visits by care staff.

This translates to freeing up to 40% of staffs time during the night – leaving them to carry out other duties. This, in turn, can result in staff and residents having better, calmer days.

The technology can be used to determine patterns in night time activity and, when coupled with the power of Care Management Apps, provide a better understanding of a residents needs and, therefore, enable more dynamic and relevant care plans to be deployed.

For more information about solutions for care, see Courtney Thorne's advert on page 11 or visit www.c-t.co.uk

A Longer and Healthier Life Is A Goal to Be Pursued The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock addressed the AllParty Parliamentary Group to present its longer, healthier lives strategy. A positive approach to a subject that is often seen as a problem, instead of something to celebrate. Matt Hancock: “Longer life is not a problem to be tackled but a goal to be pursued. And not just for government, or even the NHS, but for each and every one of us.” A goal imminently linked to technology.

Growing older every year is an accomplishment we should be very proud of. Not only because it’s the outcome of a continuously improving care system, but also because it shows that we’re all taking our health seriously. It’s no longer a side dish: it’s the main dish.

Matt Hancock tapped into the momentum and presented the longer, healthier lives strategy: “There’s a huge prize ahead if we get this right: 5 more years of healthy life. More enjoyment out of life. More time for the things that matter most in life.” It’s an ambitious goal, but definitely one worth fighting for and, with the right knowledge, people and attention, a goal that can be achieved.

There are three things that are key to making this goal a reality: people and place, lifestyle and technology.

Technology is an ongoing and upcoming important conversation that Adaptive IT Solutions is humbled and proud to be a part of. One of our most special clients WCS Care and our CLB Acoustic Monitoring were referenced in Matt Hancocks’ speech: “Adult social care is increasingly a site of healthtech

innovation. Internet-linked devices can help people live at home for longer and stay connected to family and friends.

They can also help providers deliver smarter, more responsive care. For example, there’s a provider up in Warwickshire – WCS Care – doing great things with acoustic monitoring.”

Our CLB Acoustic Monitoring lets the care staff hear crying, moving around and breathing difficulty, just to name a few. When a sound like that is detected, it sends an alert to the night managers’ monitoring station. An important solution with big impact: it means care staff doesn’t have to knock on the residents’ doors regularly to check and see if they’re alright, ensuring the residents can have a good night sleep.

This alone reduced the amount of night-time falls at WCS Care with 34%. It also provided WCS Care with another interesting insight, Matt Hancock: “…when they analyzed the data, they found that lots of people were staying awake late into the night. This led the care home to set up a ‘wide awake club’ to support night owls and get them back into a healthier rhythm.”

ABOUT ADAPTIVE IT SOLUTIONS

Formed in 2002, awardwinning Adaptive IT Solutions provides professional IT services throughout all commercial markets, predominantly within the Healthcare, Dentistry, Education and Retail sectors.

Adaptive IT Solutions offers a vast portfolio of IT services including structured cabling, audio visual, hardware deployment and specialist digital clinical equipment. For more information about Adaptive IT Solutions: www.adaptiveit.co.uk.

For more information about CLB Acoustic Monitoring: global.clb.nl.

WISHING Y OU DIDN ’T YOU DIDN’T KEEP P APER RECORDS PAPER RECORDS?? self-isolation working greater, As the pandemic crisis hits, with self -isolation and home w orking much gr eater, futuree pr proofed the digital rrevolution evolution has, for most, futur oofed “business as usual” wee kno know large percentage providers aree not so luck lucky!

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Made to the highest safety standards with a wide selection of choices, this range gives you total reassurance, every time. Each dish complies with IDDSI guidelines for texture, launched in April 2019, ensuring you can prepare each meal safely and with peace of mind. Each dish has

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 43

CATERING FOR CARE

Promoting Good Nutritional Care in Care Homes food first approach are commonly used in care homes.

IDENTIFYING NUTRITIONAL RISK IN CARE HOMES

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD NUTRITIONAL CARE BAPEN estimates that 93% of malnourished individuals with or at risk of malnutrition live in community settings (1). Unfortunately, malnutrition is often unrecognised and untreated, particularly in vulnerable populations (2).

Malnutrition can affect every system in the body, leading to adverse changes in body form and function.

Physical effects include (3): • Impaired immunity • Pressure sores • Delayed wound healing • Muscle wasting • Adverse changes to the gastrointestinal structure and function • Generalised weakness • Increased risk of falls • Increased risk of bone conditions (i.e. osteoporosis) Other studies have shown that malnutrition is associated with more hospital readmissions (4), longer length of stay, increased complications and greater risk of mortality (5).

The good news is that dietary counselling given with or without oral nutritional supplements (ONS) is effective at increasing nutritional intake and weight (6).

Therefore, interventions which combine ONS and a

Nutrition risk screening is a rapid and simple way to detect those with or at risk of malnutrition, so that suitable care plans can be implemented. Nutritional screening for malnutrition is recommended in NICE clinical guideline 32 for all admissions to care homes and when there is clinical concern (7).

The Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) (www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/must/must_full.pdf) is the most frequently used screening tool in the UK. It is a five-step tool suitable for screening adults across all care settings. It is used to detect those who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition.

The five steps are as follows: • Measure height and weight to determine Body Mass Index (BMI) • Calculate percentage of unplanned weight loss in the past 3-6 months • Establish acute disease effect and score • Add scores together to obtain an overall score for risk of malnutrition • Use management guidelines and/or local policy to establish treatment plan All staff involved in nutrition-risk screening should be suitably trained to meet required standards for their organisation.

PERSON-CENTRED APPROACH TO NUTRITIONAL CARE Person-centred care (www.hee.nhs.uk/ourwork/person-centred-care) means “focusing care on the needs of the individual.” It’s about ensuring that people's preferences, needs and values guide clinical decisions, whilst delivering care that is respectful of

By Harriet Smith, Registered Dietitian on behalf of AYMES International

and responsive to their needs (8).

One-size does not fit all when it comes to good nutritional care. People’s dietary preferences are highly individual due to religious, cultural and ethical factors.

Additionally, nutritional requirements may differ according to medical need.

Food provisions in care homes must be able to meet an individual’s needs.

Having a discussion with care home residents and/or their family, friends or carers to obtain further information about food preferences can be useful when delivering person-centred nutritional care. Menus should provide variety and choice, with systems in place to gather the views about food and drink from their residents, families and friends.

Every mealtime matters, and individuals should receive appropriate support and assistance to ensure optimal nutritional intake. Organisational approaches such as communal dining and protected mealtimes are useful strategies.

Oral nutrition support should be considered in patients who have inadequate oral intake of food and fluids to meet their nutritional requirements. This may include a food first approach (i.e. food fortification, extra snacks, nourishing drinks, energy-dense meals), oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and dietary counselling.

ONS products are used for medical purposes in patients who meet the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) prescribing criteria, have been screened using a validated malnutrition screening tool and have been deemed to be at nutritional risk. ONS should always be given under medical supervision and must be used appropriately and in accordance with local prescribing guidelines.

Local prescribing guidelines for the treat-

ment of disease-related malnutrition often recommend powdered ONS products such as AYMES Shake (aymes.com/products/aymes-shake) as first-line interventions in care home settings. AYMES Shake is a nutritionally balanced, milkshake-style supplement, providing 383kcal and 19g protein per serving when mixed with 200ml whole milk. AYMES Shake is one of the best value powdered ONS products available (9), and is therefore a sensible choice for cost savings.

ABOUT AYMES INTERNATIONAL: AYMES International manufactures delicious, costeffective oral nutrition supplements for the dietary management of patients with, or at risk of diseaserelated malnutrition. For more information, visit https://aymes.com/ or call +44 (0) 845 680 5496.

References: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

Malnutrition Task Force. Malnutrition in the UK Factsheet. Available at: http://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/resources/malnutritionfactsheet/ BAPEN Nutritional Screening Surveys in Hospitals in the UK, 2007 2011 (2014). Available at: https://www.bapen.org.uk/pdfs/nsw/bapen-nsw-uk.pdf Gandy, J. Manual of Dietetic Practice, chp. 6.2 Malnutrition (2014).

Sharma, Y. et al. (2017). ‘Malnutrition and Its Association with Readmission and Death within 7 Days and 8-180 Days Postdischarge in Older Patients: A Prospective Observational Study’.

BMJ Open.

Correia, M. et.al. (2003). ‘The Impact of Malnutrition on Morbidity, Mortality, Length of Hospital Stay and Costs Evaluated through a Multivariate Model Analysis’. Clinical Nutrition.

Baldwin, C. & Weekes, C. E. (2012) Dietary counselling with or without oral nutritional supplements in the management of malnourished patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. [Online].

NICE, ‘Nutrition support in adults: NICE guideline CG32’, 2006.

Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg32/chapter/1Guidance NHS Health Education England. Person-Centred Care. Available at: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/person-centred-care MIMS April 2020

NUTILIS CLEAR • Transparent results • Simple to use • Amylase resistant1 • Does not continue to thicken2 • IDDSI compliant

The Dysphagia Act

NEW NUTILIS CLEAR RECIPE BOOK COMING SOON

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THE CARER DIGITAL | ISSUE 11 | PAGE 45

CATERING FOR CARE Are You In Need Of Dysphagia Training*?

*This training is intended for healthcare professionals only.

The quality standards aim is for all new health and social care staff members caring for patients with Dysphagia to complete the modules as part of their induction programme. Existing health and social care staff members should also complete the learning to support their continuing professional development.

There is a certificate that can be downloaded once the training has been successfully completed.

Caternet With care plans running up to 100 printed pages, providers are increasingly turning to kitchen software to support their CQC nutrition and allergen responsibilities. With Caternet, care organisations build recipes and menus using live data from their suppliers. Going paperless means nutrition per serving is automatically calculated, with allergenic ingredients tracked and cross-referenced - transforming Regulation 14 risk management.

Reference: 1. O’Loughlin G, Shanley C. Swallowing problems in the nursing home: a novel training response.

Dysphagia 1998; 13, 172-183.( https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-languagetherapy/clinical-information/dysphagia)

Creating recipe cards using a bank of meal preparation steps saves a digital record, accessible to service users and care professionals alike. Organisations that share menus

to apps or websites removing dietary concerns around can build trust with families,

religious and cultural backgrounds. This saves time spent manual change.

ly updating meal plans as menus Going paperless extends to purchasing with

live prices and enforcing approved buying lists. Many organisations add in their

HACCP food safety analysis guidelines to use as kitchen training

packs. Included are forecasting tools that promote compliance

across stock management too.

Caternet is developed with operators, buyers and chefs, who have all experienced similar operational and financial challenges.

It is specifically designed to help the sector remove manual processes. You will support nutrition and allergen compliance, buy more competitively, enjoy paperless financial administration, and reduce overheads.

Start saving time and money today.

023 8212 4099 www.caternet.co.uk sales@caternet.co.uk

Simply Puree

Use the camera on your phone to scan the QR code to access the elearning and get started!

For any questions contact your local Nutricia sales representative or our Resource Centre at resourcecentre@nutricia.com.

Nutilis Clear is a Food for Special Medical Purposes for the dietary management of dysphagia and must be used under medical supervision.

utes in total to complete, however you can complete one section at a time.

How can this training help you?

• Easy & convenient online solution to dysphagia training • Visibility to track progress in your care home • Raise the quality standard of dysphagia care in a consistent way

Did you know that between 50-75% of nursing home residents suffer from dysphagia1? Nutricia has a training solution for you, a FREE e-learning covering the fundamentals of dysphagia management using Nutilis Clear.

The training is divided into 4 sections and has been specially designed for busy health and social care staff caring for people living with dysphagia. It takes 60 min-

Launched in 2019, Simply Puree is a range of IDDSI compliant, nutritionally balanced, texture modified meals from levels 3-6, catering for people with dysphagia. . All made to the highest safety standards with a wide selection of choices, this range ensures you can prepare each meal safely giving you total reassurance, every time.

Each dish also has consistency in nutritional content, allowing you to easily control calorie intake. All meals come frozen and ready to serve, providing quick and convenient meals that simply need to be placed in the microwave or oven. But that’s not all, made to home-cooked standards these authentic

and tasty meals are packed full of flavour, making them perfect for any meal occa

sion throughout all day parts!

We work closely with a number of speech and language therapists so that we can ensure that we can adapt and innovate to the changing wants and needs of patients or residents with dysphagia.

Clare Park MSc MRCSLT HCPC, Speech and Language Therapist says: “As a in swallowing, I have been using the Simply Puree range clinician specialising for many years. I would definitely recommend this texture modified meal but also for the appearance,

quality and texture. I range not only for the taste that this range has made a huge difference lives, find

to my clients’

they now enjoy their meals and I have found that many now look forward to meal times meals are quick and easy to regenerate and they maintain appear again. The and through. ance, texture

taste once cooked

“So, if you have clients who have to be on a texture modified diet following a

swallowing assessment by a speech and language therapist, due to perhaps a stroke, Dementia, Parkinson’s disease etc then I would highly recommend the Simply Puree range for them.

“The range has now been extended to include reduced portion sized meals for those with small appetites, as well as snack pots for those clients needing to up their nutritional daily intake. All options are of the same high quality and are fully IDDSI compliant – who wouldn’t enjoy an afternoon snack of level 4 tea, with a chocolate bourbon biscuit!”

Not only are we continually expanding our adult range, we’ve listened to our customers and have now launched our Simply Puree Junior range which also fully complies with paediatric IDDSI guidelines so now we can provide for all age groups.

For more information go to bidfood.co.uk/simplypuree

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