RECENT NEWS

BT is helping to tackle loneliness in care homes using volunteers from UK-based contact centres to make regular calls to isolated residents.

A group of MPs, investors and charities are backing calls for the UK government to take urgent action to boost the delivery of housing-with-care provision.

Inspired Villages has been granted planning permission to build a £100m retirement village on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

Independent Care Group (ICG), which represents providers in North Yorkshire, has called for the merging of NHS health care with social care as a part of a wishlist for sector reform.

DWA Architects’ plans to redevelop the Fleetwood Lodge care home in Fleet, Hampshire have been approved by Hart District Council.

The number of deaths involving Covid-19 in care homes in England and Wales has risen to 14,022 – an increase of 568 on the previous week - according to the latest data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The UK government misjudged the risk of coronavirus to care homes and its subsequent actions made the crisis worse, according to the founder of provider HC-One.

A House of Lords select committee has written to Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock demanding a response to a social care inquiry that called last year to end the “national scandal” of failing services.

HAS Technology’s ARMED wearable technology has been certified as an official medical device after conforming to EU standards.

The Home Affairs select committee has urged the government to extend a scheme exempting overseas workers from visa fees for one year to all front line care staff.

A free to access dementia consultancy service funded by government agency Innovate UK has been made available to every care home in England.

Covid-19 outbreaks were reported in around 5,900 care homes in England – 38% of the national total- between 9 March and 17 May, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report.

Derbyshire County Council has opened a care home ready to welcome its first residents to rest and recuperate after suffering from coronavirus.

Barclays has pledged to deliver digital skills through virtual training to at least 500 care homes across the UK this year as part of its Digital Eagles programme.

Procurement specialist 2buy2 has launched a scheme to help care homes secure PPE, cleaning and hygiene supplies amid the Covid pandemic.

Government agency Innovate UK has granted funding to Oxford healthtech outfit Cognitant Group to deliver a smartphone-based training scheme for care home and community care staff.

Birmingham healthcare provider Armighorn Capital has acquired a care home in Aintree, Liverpool, via a £2m funding package provided by Frontier Development Capital.

Harrogate outfit Angela Swift Developments has filed plans with Carlisle City Council to build a 71-bed care home on the site of a former home that closed last year.

Stephensons Solicitors is to hold the first of 15 care sector webinars on 11 June with a look at the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) new Emergency Support Framework (ESF).

The number of deaths involving Covid-19 in care homes in England and Wales has risen to 13,454 – an increase of 721 on the previous week - according to the latest data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).