Two more residents die at Covid hit care home in Devon bringing death toll to seven after deadly outbreak sparked police probe
- First death occurred on March 6 at Holmesley Care Home in Sidmouth
- A further ten residents are being treated at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
- Police are investigating ‘infection control and management’ at the home
Two more residents have died at a Devon care home where police launched an investigation following a ‘devastating’ coronavirus outbreak.
It brings the number of people who have died since March 6th following positive Covid tests at the Holmesley Care Home in Sidmouth.
A further ten residents are being treated at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
Announcing the new deaths, Devon and Cornwall Police said on Friday that their investigation would focus on ‘infection control and management’ at the home.
The outbreak saw a ‘significant number’ of residents and staff testing positive. The home described the deaths as ‘devastating’.
Police launched a ‘complex investigation after concerns were raised’ over the circumstances of the outbreak.
Two more residents have died at a Devon care home where police have launched a investigation following a ‘devastating’ coronavirus outbreak. It brings the number of people who have died since March 6th following positive Covid tests at the Holmesley Care Home in Sidmouth
Officers have spoken to staff and they conducted a search of the home earlier this week.
Will Neal, the home’s director, said in a letter to families of residents that, ‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected by this loss.’
He said the ‘vast majority’ of residents and staff at the home have received their first dose of the vaccine.
He said most residents ‘are no longer showing any Covid symptoms or remain asymptomatic’.
He added ‘We still have a small number of people who are displaying symptoms and we continue to monitor their health very closely.
‘All those who have tested negative are being cared for by dedicated carers who are not attending to the needs of those who have tested positive.’
The home has now increased the number of nurses it has on duty from one to two at all times, the letter said.
All staff are taking lateral flow tests before each shift, while weekly PCR swab tests are completed weekly by everyone in the home who has not tested positive in 90 days, he said.
Announcing the new deaths, Devon and Cornwall Police said on Friday that their investigation would focus on ‘infection control and management’ at the home
One member of staff is also in hospital with coronavirus. Police launching the probe earlier this week said it was not a ‘random inquiry’.
The investigation it is believed to be based on allegations which could lead to manslaughter or wilful neglect charges.
Chief Superintendent Dan Evans said concerns were raised to police which led to the police investigation in tandem with the Care Quality Commission.
Police are leading a ‘multi-agency’ investigation, they said on Friday.
The home was inspected just two weeks before the flare-up was reported.
An inspection was carried out at the home last month after concerns were raised with the care watchdog.
There have been no arrests at this stage.
Chief Superintendent Evans said: ‘I’ve no doubt there will be concern in the community regarding this incident and we are doing everything possible to help those bereaved families, while also working with partners to communicate to those with relatives remaining within the home.
‘This is a complex investigation involving ourselves and multi-agency partners with safeguarding of residents at its core.
‘There is significant work under way to understand the current situation and progress the investigation as quickly as possible, while maintaining the safety of care home residents, staff, police officers and partner agency staff.’
Police said agency staff had been brought in to care for residents who remain at the home while staff are self-isolating.
A force spokeswoman confirmed that an investigation was launched ‘following concerns about the outbreak’.
Post-mortem examinations have been carried out on at least three of the residents who died.
A further ten residents are being treated at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
In a statement earlier this week, a spokeswoman for Holmesley Care Home said the firm is ‘working closely’ with the authorities to ‘halt the spread of infection’ and investigate how the virus entered the home.
The home, which has up to 55 residents, boasts ‘a ‘virus-proof’ visitor room in which relatives are welcome to visit their loved ones without fear of spreading infection’.
The company said the ‘vast majority’ of residents and staff had received the first dose of the Covid vaccine which ‘may have helped prevent an even worse situation’.
Mr Neal said earlier this week that residents and staff were ‘about to have their second dose’.
He added: ‘We cannot speculate how the virus might have entered our home but our clear priority right now is the care of our residents and staff and to do all we can to reduce the risk of further cases.’
The firm has not made a comment on the police-led investigation into the deaths.
Officers will be interviewing the staff as they investigate whether any criminality has been involved.
A spokeswoman for the care home said: ‘I can confirm that we are currently dealing with an outbreak of coronavirus in the home and that sadly, five residents have passed away from the virus.
‘They will be deeply missed and our thoughts are with their loved ones at this challenging time.
‘The vast majority of our residents and our staff team have received their first dose of the vaccine and we hope this may have helped prevent an even worse situation.
‘Of the residents and staff who tested positive, the majority have shown either no symptoms, or mild symptoms only.
‘We continue to monitor the situation closely, and are doing everything in our power to ensure residents receive the appropriate care.
‘For nearly 12 months our staff team has worked incredibly hard to keep the virus from entering our home.
‘We are therefore devastated by this outbreak and are committed to working closely with all the relevant authorities to halt the spread of infection and to investigate how the virus entered our home.
‘As an investigation is ongoing, we will not be commenting further.’
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