Gillian Keegan MP holds virtual meeting on the impact of coronavirus on Chichester care homes

Care providers from across the constituency updated the MP on the issues facing local services.

Representatives from the county council, which holds responsibility for social care, also attended.

The two-hour conference covered many areas such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), testing, guidance and more.

Ms Keegan said: “Our local care sector is doing a brilliant job through an extraordinary time.

“These services have never been more important and their tireless work throughout this outbreak has meant many lives have been saved.

“All the care homes I’ve spoken to have stringent and comprehensive measures in place to protect those in their care – actions that will have saved lives.

“I was pleased to hear that many of the early systems in place that we’re causing concern such as testing, results response times, and PPE procurement have by and large improved.

“I have taken several actions from the call and I will be continuing to work closely with the sector, through this crisis and beyond.

“Every care provider who took part was extremely positive and collaborative.

“I want to thank our entire care sector and especially those on the frontline for doing an exceptional job.

“I also want to thank the West Sussex County Council team who were rightly praised for their excellent level of communication – especially translating and updating care providers on the rapidly evolving guidance.

“There’s lots of work to be done to continue to support the care sector – but I have every confidence in our fantastic providers locally who are keeping our most vulnerable residents safe.”

Kathy Greenfield, manager of Ferndale Care Home, said: “Tackling coronavirus has been a big challenge for the care sector as we look after some of the most vulnerable in society.

“Gillian showed real concern for the challenges we faced and I am really grateful to her for arranging the call and taking the time to listen to the concerns.

“The conference was very constructive and covered a lot of ground - allowing us as care providers to share ideas and questions with one and other, the county council and our MP.

“Gillian clearly understands the pressures we are facing and I am looking forward to continuing working together moving forward.”

New figures show the rate of coronavirus deaths outside hospital in Chichester is falling.

Office for National Statistics data shows that in Chichester, 77 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered up to June 6.

​Of those, 47 occurred outside hospital – including 37 in care homes and three at private homes.

A further seven deaths occurred in hospices, other community establishments or elsewhere.

It means the area’s death toll outside hospital increased by just two in the latest weekly period, a smaller increase than the seven seen the previous week.

The figures, based on where Covid-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, include deaths that occurred up to May 29 but were registered up to eight days later.

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