County council leader hopes Chapel-en-le-Frith Covid-19 unit will not be needed

Coun Lewis’ comments came in response to questions from Whaley Bridge county councillor and former High Peak MP Ruth George.

Families of residents have been left fearing for their loved ones’ safety in recent weeks after the Chapel-en-le-Frith care home was identified as potentially suitable for patients discharged from hospital after suffering with the virus.

The council leader wrote how he hoped Belper’s new 40-bed Florence Nightingale Hospital - caring solely for coronavirus patients discharged from hospital - would mean Whitestones staff would no longer be needed to care for Covid-19 patients.

However he added ‘I know the difficulties recruiting care staff’.

Coun Lewis wrote how he had received ‘assurances’ from Helen Jones, the council’s director of social care, about Whitestones staff.

He added: “Staff within the vulnerable group or those living with a family member in a vulnerable group are not being required to work in a frontline role with those who are confirmed positive or symptomatic.

“There will be no lone working on the Covid unit.”

He wrote how ‘where possible’ essential training would be supported within standard working hours but if this was not possible ‘additional hours’ would be offered and paid.

Responding to Coun Lewis comments a Derbyshire County Council spokesperson said ‘safe staffing arrangements had been considered as part of risk assessments in Whitestones and all our council homes to ensure the health and safety of residents and staff’.

She added: “These include delivery of personal care, use of PPE, laundry and hygiene practices and up to date infection control training.

“The safety and wellbeing of our residents, their families and our staff is our highest priority and we’re working with the Government to ensure staff have access to all the PPE they need to do their job as well as good advice on how to use it correctly.

“We continue to have good supplies of PPE and we do not anticipate any shortages.”

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