Praise for teams as Hartlepool care homes fight back against coronavirus

Council chiefs have praised the work of care homes and the support provided to them throughout the Covid-19 outbreak.

Overall 50% of care homes in Hartlepool had confirmed cases of the virus, and at the peak of the pandemic some care homes had approximately 50% of their staff self-isolating due to being symptomatic or having tested positive.

In one week there were 42 cases confirmed and 12 deaths reported.

However figures showed the number of cases in adult social care settings peaked between 20 April 2020 and 4 May 2020 and has reduced steadily since then, with no new cases reported in care homes since 25 May 2020.

The information came as Hartlepool Borough Council Chief Executive Gill Alexander gave an update on the town’s Covid-19 response.

Speaking at an extraordinary council meeting, Ms Alexander praised the staff and response in the area to the crisis.

She said: “Our adult social care services have had a huge challenge to rise up to in supporting our care homes.

“Our care homes, like care homes across the nation, have experienced a significant outbreak of coronavirus and we’ve worked closely with care homes and through our adult social care services to make sure our most vulnerable, both in our care homes and community, were supported.

“Unlike some other areas, our care providers have really welcomed the strong relationship that there’s been with the council.

“I’m pleased to report that we’ve had no reported cases of coronavirus in our care homes in the last week, so we feel that the work we have done has had a significant impact.”

It was also noted almost 70% of PPE provided to those in need in Hartlepool, including care homes, has been provided by the council, as opposed to the national stock.

Praise was given to businesses, schools and colleges, who donated face masks, as well as using 3D printers to create visors and PPE to be distributed.

Council officers distributed over 100,000 items of PPE in total and contacted care homes over 1,500 times with advice and support throughout the crisis.

Coun Sue Little, chair of Adult and Community Based Services Committee on the council, also praised the efforts made.

She said: “I just wanted to applaud adult and community based services, and all the outstanding work they’ve done during the pandemic.

“They were one of the first ones to get the PPE, they realised that in the early stages, the staff were absolutely outstanding and sourced that PPE so none of our nursing homes were short.

“The people who worked in the hubs, the voluntary sectors, I take my hat off, I think they all deserve a massive round of applause.”

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