Denbighshire Council says ‘no confirmed cases’ of coronavirus in its care homes

A council says it’s had “no confirmed cases” of Covid-19 within any of its care or extra care homes – as a nursing union asks who’s actually checking them.

Denbighshire council directly runs two care and three extra care facilities in the county, which cater for around 150 residents.

As of earlier this week, the authority said it had “no confirmed cases” of the coronavirus strain.

It also said it had “no concerns” over its stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) although it was monitoring the situation.

The news comes as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) asks who is checking care homes while the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) isn’t.

The CIW stopped inspections at the outset of the pandemic but the RCN said it had “concerns about sufficient and suitable PPE” and the lack of testing available for care homes so members could safely look after vulnerable residents.

In a letter to CIW chief executive Gillian Baranski, RCN Wales director Helen Whyley called for assurances on the quality and safety of care homes for older people and demanded a review of actions taken to protect them.

She said: “I have written to the Chief Executive of Care Inspectorate

Wales, Gillian Baranski, to ask her what steps her organisation is taking to protect residents in the absence of routine home inspections.

“I have also asked for the organisation to begin preparing for a retrospective thematic review into the actions taken and not taken across the nation by Welsh Government, local authorities health boards and others.

“A retrospective account will undoubtedly identify significant lessons for us all about best practice, best policy and avoidable harm.

“I believe this to be a very appropriate exercise for an organisation that claims to be an ‘expert voice to influence and drive improvement’.”

She also called for “prompt access to testing” for care home staff. She added: “Nurses and healthcare workers in care homes are crucial in the fight against COVID-19 and they simply must feel safe to care for residents in a hygienic environment, having followed the appropriate guidance.”

Denbighshire council said there had been “no confirmed cases” of Covid-19 in any of its care homes at Cysgod Y Gaer (Corwen) and Dolwen (Denbigh).

Similarly, there had been no confirmed cases at Gorwel Newydd (Rhyl), Nant y Mor (Prestatyn) or Llys Awelon (Ruthin) it said.

The council has also been asked if there have been any suspected cases among staff or residents.

A spokesman said Welsh Government had supplied 98,400 gloves, 48,000 face masks, 76,600 aprons, 13,200 visors and 13,200 frames.

It added there were “no concerns around stocks at present” but continued to monitor the situation.

By Jez Hemming – Local Democracy Reporter