Health and safety probe is launched into group of care homes where 14 residents died from Covid-19 after whistleblowers claimed they were told not to wear face masks
- Guidelines said workers did not have to wear the masks if symptoms not present
- Care home group Horizon Care said no symptoms were displayed before April 2
- There have been 14 coronavirus-related deaths at operator’s homes in Sheffield
- Virus was suspected in four deaths but was not confirmed due to a lack of testing
- Do you know more about the claims? Contact [email protected]
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A health and safety probe has been launched into a group of care homes where 14 residents died from Covid-19 after whistleblowers claimed they were told not to wear face masks.
Guidelines issued by Horizon Care said workers did not have to wear the protective gear if Covid-19 symptoms were not present at the homes in Sheffield.
Numerous workers reported being told not to wear masks at Wood Hill Lodge as no-one had tested positive at the home, despite residents suffering from coughs and fevers.
A health and safety probe has been launched into a group of care homes after whistleblowers claimed they were told not to wear face masks (file photo of a caregiver and elderly woman)
The care home group said no symptoms were displayed before April 2, when the first case was confirmed, and staff were told to wear masks when a patient tested positive.
There have been 14 coronavirus-related deaths at the operator’s homes in Sheffield and 10 confirmed Covid-19 deaths.
The virus was suspected in four of the deaths but could not be confirmed due to a lack of testing.
One whistleblower told the BBC: ‘If we would have been wearing masks from the beginning of March, if we had worn the full PPE and all the staff had been allowed to wear them, and all precautions had been taken, then I feel some lives would have been saved.’
Another said: ‘It made us feel unsafe being told not to wear masks, scared, every day you were terrified to go back.’
A third worker claimed: ‘You get one mask per 12-hour shift, if you drop it or it falls on the floor then you have to go and ask for another one.’
The care home group said no symptoms were displayed before April 2, when the first case was confirmed, and staff were told to wear masks when a patient tested positive (file photo)
The Care Quality Commission has been working with the operator to ensure they have the adequate support and the Health and Safety Executive is investigating the claims.
In a statement, Horizon Care said it has ‘worked hard’ to support residents and workers.
It added: ‘This includes implementing a comprehensive pandemic policy and issuing regular communications to support staff to implement Public Health England guidance.
‘We have always fully complied with UK Government and Public Health England advice in relation to infection prevention and control.’