Wrexham care home has lost 60% of its residents to coronavirus

A distraught care home boss has pleaded for government support afterlosing 60% of her residents to Covid-19.

Manor Park Residential Home in Holt, near Wrexham, was at 50% bed occupancy, or 14 residents when the first coronavirus case was suspected.

Owner Ricki Bibi wouldn’t confirm the number of Covid-19 deaths at thehome but she said it had suffered a mortality rate of 60%.

"The home now has a bed occupancy of less than 20%," she added.

Ricki said staff had responded magnificently – six had moved into thebuilding to lock down with residents.

As a result, the home had now been declared symptom free as defined bygovernment guidelines.

But she warned the care home sector was now standing on the precipicewithout financial support from local authorities.

Manor Park is registered for people over 65 with dementia or mentalinfirmity, with fees paid by Wrexham Council.

Its owners suspect Covid-19 entered the premises via a referredresident but without testing, however, this cannot be confirmed.

Earlier this month the Welsh Government awarded the care sector a £40memergency fund but this was a “drop in the ocean”, said Ricki.

“The money we need to run care homes will start running out withinweeks,” she said.

“At the moment no funding is coming into the care sector, which cannotaccess loans or grants."

It comes as a leading social care expert has warned that half of Wales' care homes could be forced to close amid the coronavirus crisis - unless urgent action is taken.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said many homes are already having to take out loans and consider imminent closure due to a “perfect storm” of spiralling costs and falling income.

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There are also staffing concerns. "People don’t want to work in carehomes, agencies cannot find the staff and those that are available areearmarked for the NHS," she said.

During its difficulties, Manor Park was supported by local people andbusinesses, with donations ranging from cakes to visors and masks.

The home is now again open for new referrals and Ricki urged thecommunity to once again give its backing.

She applauded its staff for their selfless commitment.

Wrexham Council was approached for a comment.