Council leader urges further extension of care grant

Council leader Neil Emmott

The leader of Rochdale Borough Council has urged the government to further extend a vital grant that has been in place for the care sector throughout the pandemic.

Councillor Neil Emmott said it was vital that the infection control funding remained in place over the winter to support local care homes.

The leader has written to Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, setting out the importance of the infection control grant for the care sector.

He stressed the importance of the funding remaining in place until next March, to protect elderly and vulnerable people from covid-19 and flu over the winter.

The grant helps local care providers to maintain good staffing levels, pay workers full wages if they need to self-isolate and implement infection control measures.

Councillor Emmott said: “Throughout the pandemic, the infection control funding for the care sector has played an essential part in our work to protect local care homes and ensure vulnerable residents can receive the best possible care and support.

“This time last year, the government listened to our request for a grant extension and it helped to ensure thousands of older and vulnerable residents were protected throughout last winter.

“It’s even more important this year that the grant is extended, ensuring our care homes are in the best possible place to combat any covid-19 and flu outbreaks during the colder months.

“We can be proud of our work to support and protect care homes through the pandemic. To help get us through the winter again, we need the government to listen and take action.

“The protection and wellbeing of our residents is always our number one priority which is why, as council leader, I am calling for the government to urgently intervene and release this much needed cash.”