MP Matt Western has called for an urgent inquiry into Covid-19 deaths in Warwickshire ahead of an expected winter spike.
The Warwick and Leamington MP has described the need for an ’urgent, interim’ investigation into the deaths, particularly in care homes, as a result of the pandemic.
Mr Western, speaking in parliament before the summer recess, outlined his thanks to many in the community who helped in the effort against the virus.
But he said he had “real concerns about the failure of some and lack of leadership in recognising the threat of the pandemic”
Mr Western specifically mentioned the response to the crisis in care homes, saying there was an “absolute blindness” to the issue.
To date, there have been at least 394 ‘excess deaths’ in Warwickshire care homes this year.
Mr Western said: “We have seen 65,000 excess deaths in the UK. I believe we cannot wait for a government inquiry.
“We need an interim urgent inquiry to take place, and I certainly want to see one in Warwickshire.”
The MP has previously called out local and national government for their responses to the social care outbreaks.
Back in May, Mr Western said “locally, Warwickshire County Council were slow to prioritise social care in important Covid-19 response meetings – omitting the issue of social care completely – until I intervened.”
He also said “Shockingly, Public Health England’s guidance in March said that care homes were “very unlikely” to see an outbreak of Covid-19. At the same time, the WHO declared a global pandemic and people were already dying in the UK.”
