The Leader of Croydon Council has welcomed the government’s new pledge to deliver on its responsibility to provide widespread Covid-19 testing and protective equipment for care home residents and staff.
Following pressure from local authorities including Croydon for the government to give care home residents and staff nationwide greater protection, this week ministers announced they will expand symptom testing and invest more in personal protective equipment (PPE).
The council leader has welcomed this announcement, and urged ministers to fulfil the nationwide supply effort needed to protect care homes on the frontline with enough Covid-19 testing and equipment.
“The council takes great pride in fully supporting the excellent care home staff looking after our most vulnerable residents, including through infection control training or extra money to cover exceptional Covid-19 costs. However, this is a national crisis requiring a national response from the government.
“Croydon Council has joined many others in pushing hard for government to meet their full responsibilities to everyone on the frontline in the care sector, especially on testing and protective equipment, and we welcome their pledge to do so.
“We in local government are already doing all we can to safeguard the public and look after care staff on the frontline, so now as the country faces a longer lockdown period I urge ministers to do all they can on these crucial issues.”
Councillor Tony Newman, leader of the council
