I would like to post on behalf of other care homes in and around Dorset facing the same struggles as we are in our care home in Dorchester.
We are a 22 bed care home providing complex care for 70-101 year olds – the most ‘at risk’ people in our society!
Whilst we struggle through this tough episode I would like everyone to spare a thought for us when you panic buy in supermarkets!
Today we were told that we couldn’t have our weekly delivery slot from Tesco’s because everyone had booked up for the next few weeks, leaving us with no choice but to go and shop in person. Not only does this put our staff providing front line care at greater risk going into a supermarket but it also then means that they are going back in to the home after being in a busy populated space and carrying potential germs that could be fatal for many or even all of our beautiful residents!!
Also please remember that we now have to go shopping for 22 people for a week when we will be rationed to 3 ‘identical’ items!!! All because of selfish people panic buying!
Not only is this highlighting how selfish people have been, but that we will have to go into the supermarket several times to get an adequate amount of groceries! It takes staff away from the care and increases risk.
When we lose staff to this illness (which we will) we will be on our bare bones trying to keep our vulnerable residents safe and well cared for. How is it fair that we will also have to find a way of shopping numerous times per week just to feed them because we can only get 3 of each item?!!!!
I would like to finally add how amazing the staff are who work for me and for all other parts of the health care system. The industry has been under appreciated and underpaid for so long but are the ones who can’t ‘work from home’ they are the ones getting up and going to work every day to keep the most vulnerable safe!
Let’s hope the government recognises this after it’s all over and give more recognition and funding to a sector who will get this country through its worst crisis in our lifetimes! (And we don’t see pay rises for bankers!!!)
Thank you to the services in our country. X
Jenny Whitehead
