Care homes urgently need more input from GPs and other community clinical leaders to ensure front line managers can cope during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the National Care Forum (NCF).
The representative body for the not-for-profit social care sector warned residents and staff face greater risk without improved clinical input, and that many more may require support within hospital settings - placing greater demand on the acute NHS services.
The NCF called for every care home to be granted a minimum standard of access to GPs for emergency advice, as well as regular phone and online consultations to share clinical best-practice.
In addition, every care home should be provided with the essential medical monitoring devices and medication necessary to respond to an outbreak, it said in a statement.
NCF executive director Vic Rayner (pictured) said: “If a person was to enter a hospital with the acute effects of Covid-19, they would rightly be given the clinical support that they need as an absolute priority.”
She added: “Unfortunately, the frontline of this virus has moved into care homes, and the clinical focus needs to shift with them. It is essential that they have the support of specially trained health professionals when necessary, and that they are given every resource required to prevent, prepare for and mitigate the impact of a coronavirus outbreak.”
The NCF reiterated previous calls GPs, community nurses, allied health professionals and acute clinicians to help build a “ring of steel” around vulnerable care homes to protect the health of residents.
