Social care is a neglected part of our health system

AT THE LAST moment the Government has backtracked on its sadly illconceived policy of forcing health and care workers to be vaccinated if they want to keep their jobs.

-  Baroness Ros Altmann

Unfortunately, this U-turn has come too late for staff in our care homes. Those who refused to be vaccinated had to be dismissed.

This has led to 40,000 care home workers leaving the jobs many of them loved, since the requirement for them to be double-jabbed was introduced last November.

Of course, vaccination is important. It is the best way to protect against Covid and the vast majority of people were eager to be fully jabbed. But some are extremely nervous and need more time to be convinced.

People who are scared will often react negatively to being pressured or threatened, rather than persuaded. This proved to be the case for some staff, as mandatory vaccination was imposed on care homes without proper preparation or support. All too often, social care seems to be the neglected part of our health system.

Care home operators, their staff, and those vulnerable people whose lives depend on them are treated as of secondary importance.

Despite widespread warnings of staff shortages, they were pushed to the bottom of the pile and valuable workers have lost their jobs.

Meanwhile, NHS and domiciliary care staff – for whom mandatory vaccination rules were only due to start from April 1 – have been spared by the policy reversal.