LISTEN: Union calls on health minister to roll out mass testing of staff and residents in care homes

By Q Radio News

A union is calling on the Health Minister Robin Swann to roll out testing of all staff and residents in care homes across Northern Ireland. 

It comes after the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)  published data indicating that 26% of COVID-19 deaths occurred in care homes and hospices. 

Unison's Regional Secretary Patricia McKeown says the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the Republic of Ireland has already moved on the issue and announced plans to ramp up mass testing.

She says questions must now be asked of the Department of Health's approach.

‘‘It is becoming clearer that emergency action must be taken by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland which is dragging its heals on this," she said.

"Only when all staff and residents are tested will the real picture and true cost of this pandemic be laid bare. 

"We are getting horror statistics from Europe where it's now clear that up to 50% of COVID-19 deaths have been in residential care and nursing homes - we are not any different." 

Ms McKeown has also called for residents from 484 care homes in Northern Ireland - with a total of 16,000 beds - to be moved into hotels to escape the deadly virus which has been detected in over 50 facilities so far. 

"All our hotels are empty - we could be moving residents into hotels to keep them safe, it would certainly save lives," 

"People who are testing negative should not be made to stay in homes where there is coronavirus." 

Ms McKeown said the current lack of testing is unacceptable, especially in light of the memorandum of understanding that was signed by the Department of Health and HSE earlier this month to facilitate greater co-operation on messaging, research and implementing public health measures.

"If they have committed to testing in the Republic then the same commitment should be made here," she said. 

Over the weekend Ireland's health minister Simon Harris said the country must "hone in further" on residential care facilities where Covid-19 continues to spread.

Staff and residents in all long-term residential care settings in the Republic are to be prioritised for testing in the coming 10 days amid ongoing concern about infection clusters.

In a statement Unison called on the NI Executive and the Mr Swann in particular to "activate the joint memorandum agreed between both governments and to commence a parallel programme" of testing.

"We do not underestimate the challenges this presents but a coordinated programme across the island has a greater chance of success against a virus that is sweeping through it," the statement read.

"We have a moral obligation to our population of older people to take all necessary steps to protect them.

"Their fundamental human rights must be upheld.

"The same holds true for all staff working to care for them.

Patients and staff are risking their lives. Some are losing them. Delay is not an option.’’