Councils across Merseyside are set to receive a further £17.3 million from the Government, as part of the new £600 million Infection Control Fund to tackle the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in care homes.

Wirral Council’s share, £4.7 million, will be used to support the care of almost 4,000 care home residents and domiciliary care providers.

It is part of a new package of support for care home residents and staff, including limiting staff movement, protecting wages and giving access to NHS personal protective equipment (PPE) training.

Councillor Mary Jordan (Conservative Clatterbridge Ward) and spokesman on Wirral Council’s Adult Social Care Committee, said: “As we have managed to avoid Arrowe Park Hospital being overwhelmed by this outbreak, the focus is now on our care homes.  

“This extra £4.7 million means that every care home in Wirral will have the resources they need to combat the spread of the infection. In return Wirral Council will be demanding that the money we are giving them is used to support staff on the frontline and their residents.”

All councils are now required to conduct a daily review of care homes in their area to ensure care homes have the support they need with staffing, help with accessing PPE and other areas of operation.

Meanwhile, the NHS now ensures that each care home has a named clinical contact to provide better access to clinical advice through weekly check-ins to review their patients, and offer direct support for staff with use of equipment and medication.

All symptomatic and asymptomatic care home staff and residents in England are already eligible for testing, and testing is prioritised for care homes that look after the over 65s.