A “crucial” study looking back at Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths in Gloucestershire care homes during the pandemic has been launched to find “better outcomes” if a second wave occurs this Winter, writes Leigh Boobyer.

According to a Gloucestershire County Council document, the review has been developed to “learn from what happened during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic” to make changes, adding it is “crucial that this is done rapidly to ensure changes can be implemented in advance of any future increase in cases”.

It is being proposed to have initial “themes and actions” by the start of November, the report added.

Data from the Care Quality Commission shows there were 261 Covid-19 deaths in Gloucestershire’s care homes between April 10 and August 8.

The LDRS reported in July that 111 hospital patients were discharged into the county’s care homes without a Covid-19 test in the early weeks of the UK’s coronavirus outbreak.

Of the 46 patients who were tested, according to a Freedom of Information request made to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 20 of them had Covid-19 at some point between that period before being sent to care homes.

Both the hospitals trust and the county council said at the time they were not aware of any local care home outbreaks caused by the discharge of patients without a Covid-19 test.

The review will include interviews with a range of stakeholders including care homes, which will “remain anonymous in any reports”, the report said, and “positive and negative learning points” will be identified.

The document said : “A process for a look back on Covid-19 cases, outbreaks and mortality in Gloucestershire care homes to date has been developed.

“The aim is to learn from what happened during the initial peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to make any appropriate changes which could facilitate better outcomes if there is a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the coming months.

“It is crucial that this is done rapidly to ensure changes can be implemented in advance of any future increase in cases.

“The work is being undertaken using quality improvement methodology with support from the quality improvement team, and will include a wide range of stakeholders including GCC, CCG, GHC and care homes.

“The review will include; data analysis, structured interviews with colleagues involved within the wider system and semi-structured interviews with care homes.

“This will identify positive and negative learning points which will be collated into themes with actions.

“Consideration of the sensitivity of this project is crucial and care homes who take part will remain anonymous in any reports.

“The aim is to have initial themes and actions by the start of November.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The council report can be found here: https://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/documents/s64481/Joint%20Report%20ASC%20PH%20Final.pdf