Coronavirus claims six lives in one nursing home

The nursing home, which has not been identified in order to protect residents and staff, is among the 67 nursing homes that are currently battling outbreaks of the coronavirus.

At least six people have died there who were suffering from Covid-19.

"We offer our condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, not only in our home, but throughout the country," said a spokesperson.

In a statement provided to the Irish Independent, the spokesperson said there was an urgent need for personal protective equipment (PPE) as staff try to keep themselves and their residents safe.

The number of private nursing homes that have suffered outbreaks of the virus has escalated amid increasing concern it is now a countrywide problem.

However, most are still waiting for supplies of protective equipment which is coming in "dribs and drabs".

"Nursing homes are disappointed by the pace at which the supports are being delivered," said Tadhg Daly, of Nursing Homes Ireland.

Private nursing homes, which have now been struck by 67 coronavirus clusters, have hit out at the slow pace of support despite being promised a range of emergency aid.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to ensure staff, many of whom deliver close personal care to residents, are guarded from the virus.

The promise of infection control teams visiting homes to advise on how to counter the spread of the virus has also not fully materialised.

Several homes are continuing to struggle with the absence of staff who are in self-isolation and waiting for the return of test results.

Most of the homes struck by the clusters are in the east, where 44 facilities have reported outbreaks.

HSE-run nursing homes are also affected, with clusters in 16 of these units, while hospitals have been affected by 45 clusters.

As the facility that has already lost six residents battles to prevent more deaths, family members have expressed concern.

"Staff are doing all they can," said one family member.

"However, we are worried that this is spreading so rapidly and taking so many.

"The pressure is on big time for PPE in there and while the priority is the acute hospitals, there is a feeling that the nursing homes have been left behind. They are really struggling with this.

"The home is one of the first with an infection to have been hit a few weeks ago and they seem to be living the future of other homes out there."

A spokesman for the home said: "We appreciate the ongoing support and close working relationship with the HSE and Public Health. There is an urgent need for equipment and resources across the entire nursing home sector.

"We are hoping for the urgent delivery of the PPE equipment and staffing supports announced by the minister on Sunday.

"These will assist the staff in our nursing home and the others throughout the country as they work hard to care for those with Covid-19 and contributing to save lives."

It comes as the HSE plans to transfers hundreds of homecare workers to nursing homes from tomorrow.

In response to queries from the Irish Independent, a spokesperson for the HSE did not comment on specific queries relating to the Dublin nursing home with six Covid-19 deaths.

A statement said: "The HSE is working closely with a wide range of residential care services, including private nursing homes, in relation to the control of outbreaks of Covid-19 in such centres. The range of issues being dealt with mainly relate to advice, access to PPE, Public Health-related measures and in a small number of cases, access to staff where such nursing homes cannot recruit same.

"The HSE will continue to work with all providers to support them in their obligations of providing residential care services to their residence, and to work with them through the critical stages of outbreaks in their centres as is required."

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