Supporting our care homes

May 31, 2020

Through the work of our community teams, we have strong relationships with many care homes that are sited within the Birmingham and Sandwell areas. During the COVID-19 pandemic we enhanced the support that our dedicated care homes team provides by extending to a seven day service. We worked with care homes, local authority and public health colleagues to develop a daily reporting system that tells us which care homes need support that can include training, clinical advice, help with equipment, PPE and FIT-testing. Our teams are helping with end of life care and infection prevention and control advice including our PPE van that has visited homes to provide on-site training in donning and doffing. Care homes have been part of our community swabbing response and some of our shielding colleagues are providing regular telephone advice and support.

Donations received by the Trust are routinely shared with care homes and one of our partner charities, Kissing it Better, have been out visiting care home providing socially distanced entertainment outside for residents to enjoy from their windows. Care homes are an essential part of the health and social care system so it is vital that they form a central part of our COVID-19 response.