Jul 2021
Families and Friends letter: 19 July
Letter from OSJCT CEO, Dan Hayes about the CQC release of sensitive COVID-19 data
Dear family member or friend,
We have been informed that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will shortly publish data by registered location on the number of lives lost to COVID-19 across English care homes. The information is likely to be made public and covered by the national and local media around 21 July.
Too many lives have been cut short before their time by this deadly virus. Behind each number in this data is an individual who is loved and greatly missed by family and friends. Their loss is also felt tremendously by those who have cared for and supported them, sometimes for many years.
Whilst we support transparency of information, we also believe that context is essential to allow the figures to be properly understood and for the full story to be told. We are available to offer you support at this time, should the publication of this information, or subsequent media coverage reignite your grief, or should you have questions about COVID-19 in OSJCT care homes which we can answer.
We believe the published data will provide detail on geographical location and spread, the size of the care home, the home operator, and the quality of the care home. What we can be certain of is that this virus has hit hard against all types of operators, whether public, private, or charitable.
The numbers of deaths across the care sector tell part of the story but they certainly do not recount the amazing professionalism, sacrifice and dedication of frontline nursing and care teams who daily put themselves at risk to protect some of our most vulnerable in society.
It is our hope that the use of this data by the media will be sensitive, respectful, and considerate of all those grieving. We would like to extend our condolences to you and your family and remind you that we are here should you wish to discuss this further. We encourage you to contact your home manager in the first instance, alternatively you can request a call by emailing info@osjct.co.uk.
With best wishes,
Dan Hayes