£600 million support package for care homes

A new £600 million Infection Control Fund has been introduced to tackle the spread of coronavirus in care homes.

On top of the £3.2 billion of financial support made available to local authorities to support key public services since the start of the crisis, the fund will be given to councils to ensure care homes can continue to halt the spread of coronavirus by helping them cover the costs of implementing measures to reduce transmission.

Care homes will be asked to restrict permanent and agency staff to working in only one care home wherever possible. The funding could be used to meet the additional costs of restricting staff to work in one care home and pay the wages of those self-isolating.

The government has also stressed that all local authorities must conduct a daily review of care homes in their area to ensure care homes have the support they need with staffing, help with accessing PPE and other areas of operation.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This £600 million Infection Control Fund will help as we continue to reduce infections in care homes and save lives. From the very start of this outbreak, we have been working to protect our brilliant social care workforce and the most vulnerable in our society. Our package sets out clearly the extra steps local councils and care homes should be taking as we stamp out the spread of this virus.”

Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We have already provided councils with over £3.2 billion during this pandemic so that they can respond to the immediate pressures they are facing, including supporting social care. This new funding will be distributed to councils based on the number of care home beds in their area and will be passed on quickly to care providers. It will fund new measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus in care homes, minimise infection, keep staff and residents safe and, ultimately, save lives.”