Eric Leach highlights startling numbers of care home deaths in the borough

Picture: Pxfuel

1,203 Confirmed Covid-19 Cases in Ealing on 3 June 2020

Public Health England stated that Ealing has the fourth highest number of Covid-19 cases compared with the other 31 London boroughs. Only Croydon (1,511), Southwark (1,272) and Lambeth (1,211) have more Covid-19 tested infections.

The ‘R’ Number in London is Increasing. It’s Between 0.72 and 1.2 (1 June 2020)

Analysis by Public Health England and Cambridge University suggests national Covid-19 deaths might begin to increase in mid-June 2020.

Grants for Low Income Families with A Disabled/Seriously Ill Child

The Department of Education has made £10 million Covid-19 grant funding available via the Family Fund charity. Full details at: www.familyfund.org.uk

92 Ealing Care Home Covid-19 Deaths up to 15 May 2020

This number is startling in itself, but compared to other west London boroughs it has to be worrying. Let’s look at Ealing compared with some other neighbouring boroughs, along with their patient populations:

Ealing: 441,683: 92 care home deaths

Hammersmith & Fulham: 261,710: 57

Brent: 389,177: 39

Hounslow: 320,152: 13

The worst performers in north west London are Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham.

One might have thought the London Borough of Ealing (LBE) would be so concerned about this high number of care home deaths it would use its relevant standing committees to discuss this urgently. After all it’s LBE which funds much of the care in Ealing’s care homes. However LBE’s Health & Social Care Services Committee meeting scheduled for 23 June 2020 has been cancelled. As for the LBE Health & Wellbeing Board - its 31 March 2020 and its 2 June 2020 meetings were also cancelled. There is one scheduled for 7 July 2020, but as there’s no indication it will be virtual it’s highly unlikely to take place. This non-performance is particularly damning for LBE as Health & Wellbeing Boards are statutory committees under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Finally the Health and Adult Social Services Standing Scrutiny Committee’s 28 April 2020 meeting was cancelled and no further meeting is planned.

381 Covid-19 Deaths in Ealing up to 15 May 2020

This compares with 461 Covid-19 deaths in Brent (with a smaller population than Ealing) and with just 210 in Hounslow (an even smaller population). Far more people died at home of Covid-19 in Brent (44) than in Ealing (24).

All these north west London borough figures were not provided by Ealing – but by a friendly Brent Councillor! The data sources are the Office for National Statistics and the General Register Office’s Registration Online system (RON).

Free Virtual Workshops for Ealing Businesses Affected by Covid-19

Starting at 11am on Tuesday 11 June 2020 and Wednesday 17 June 2020 these webinars focus on grant aid and how to apply for it. Organised by Ealing Council, Ealing Business Improvement Districts and Branduin Business Support Ltd. Details and how to book places.

London Underground Usage Doubled From 18 May 2020 to 3 June 2020

Transport for London has announced this increase in numbers as the train service rose to 90% of normal. Safe distancing (still 2 metres) in a tube carriage limits the number of passengers per carriage to 10. Face coverings/masks will be mandatory on all public transport in England from Monday 15 June 2020.

NHS England Reveals That 25,060 Covid-19 Untested Patients Were Discharged From NHS Hospitals to Care Homes 17 March 2020 to 16 April 2020

There was no Government requirement to test these patients during this period.

‘ NHS’ Tracers Sunbathing and Watching Netflix

Anecdotes from friends and press reports suggest that many of the 25,000 so called NHS tracers have been given very little to do for their £10/hour. Of course none of these tracers are employed by the NHS. The 3 June 2020 issue of ‘The Times’ revealed that 1,831 of the 4,456 patients put on the system after testing Covid-19 positive (40%) had provided information about their close contacts. On average 2.5 people/patient have been reached by the NHS contact tracers.

NHS Covid-19 App and Test and Trace Scheme Delayed Yet Again

The Government is predicting its NHS Covid-19 contact-tracing Smartphone App should be available for use at the end of June 2020. The Government’s test and trace boss told ‘The Guardian’ on 5 June 2020 that its Covid-19 test and trace scheme would be fully working by September or October 2020.

Does anyone still believe the Government’s Covid-19 ‘date-by’ predictions or estimates any more?

Ealing Council has made no announcement about its involvement in the Government’s Covid-19 test/trace/isolate activities. As the Council issues regular Covid-19 newsletters one can only presume that its slim Public Health resources have not yet been deployed in this area.

Some Care Home Residents Being Told to Pay New ‘Covid-19 Tax’ of Over £100/week

On 6 June 2020 Age UK said that some care home residents who pay their own fees are facing new bills for protective gear and rising staff costs. On average these residents pay some £850/week and some are now seeing these fees rise by 15%. Of the estimated 400,000 residents in care homes in England, 167,000 of them are thought to be self-funders and 45,000 are part self-funders.

Ealing Transport Planners Working on Introducing Codid-19 Segregated Cycle Lanes

Ealing Council Leader Councillor Julian Bell welcomed this initiative. He said ’Our new cycle lanes are going to give that extra bit of confidence, but some cycle training would help’.

Eric Leach

eric.alan.leach@gmail.com

June 10, 2020