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Leaked letter shows criticism of UK government

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AP London

A leaked letter to a senior UK health official shows that leaders in social care are accusing the government of offering conflicting messages, creating confusion and adding to the workload of those on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The letter seen by the BBC from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services also raises fears about funding, testing and personal protective equipment for nursing homes.

Leading British charities say the COVID-19 outbreak is causing devastation in nursing homes. Official statistics showed Tuesday that hundreds more people with the new virus have died than were recorded in the U.K. government's daily tally.

 

Among those raising the alarm is Robert Kilgour, who owns Renaissance Care, which runs 15 care homes across Scotland.

Kilgour told the BBC Breakfast that the sector was facing a tsunami wave of coronavirus cases. He appealed for more testing of social care staff, and described the government response as too little, too late.'' Health Secretary Matt Hancock acknowledged in a BBC interview that the government needs to do more for the sector.

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First Published: Apr 16 2020 | 5:46 PM IST

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