WORKERS are threatening to walk out over plans to move hospital patients into a care home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In an explosive letter from staff at Ireland Lodge in Woodingdean, Brighton and Hove City Council was accused of a “cowardly dereliction of duty” over plans to transfer patients from the Royal Sussex County Hospital into the home.

They would be patients who need support after leaving hospital.

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There were previously plans to move patients from Mill View psychiatric hospital in Hove to Ireland Lodge, which cares for 20 dementia patients.

The Argus:

Now, authorities intend to transfer patients from the Royal Sussex County Hospital instead in a bid to free beds there, prompting further fury from care home workers.

The letter from staff at the home in Lockwood Crescent said: “It almost shocks us to have to remind you that our residents are some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

“While you are told to socially distance by police and the law, ban visitors and avoid people in the street, and Skype with shielded elderly relatives, our vulnerable residents – individuals who lack the ability to keep themselves safe and those whose lives you are duty bound to protect – are being forced to share their homes and mix with complete strangers.

“And it shocks us as we watch your blatant disregard for any ounce of care that you may have once had.”

The letter, which begins with the phrase “We want to paint a picture for you”, states there is “no lock-down, no effective isolation zone, no safeguarding, no specialist personal protective equipment (PPE), no leadership, no plan, no listening, no consultation, no confidence, no safety, no respect, no love and no care”.

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The staff continued: “To exploit the love, care and compassion of a workforce, ignored, decimated, unprepared and on its knees is evidence that you are callous, reckless and irresponsible.

“We have been left no choice but to walk out of Ireland Lodge if you continue to risk our lives, our families’ lives, our residents’ lives and our citizens’ lives in this way.”

The GMB union, which represents the care home staff, had already raised fears that PPE was being moved from Ireland Lodge to the council’s other care home Craven Vale in Craven Road, Brighton.

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The council said Ireland Lodge had all it needed but it had moved hand sanitiser from the home to its “independence at home team”.

The GMB was also angry over council plans to move nine patients from Mill View to Ireland Lodge. It claimed this was set to go ahead despite the council knowing there was a coronavirus outbreak.

The council did not confirm or deny whether it knew of the outbreak.

But the authority responded to Ireland Lodge staff’s letter, saying their request to stop new admissions to the home has been escalated to council chief executive Geoff Raw and was being discussed with council members and with the NHS.

Councillor Clare Moonan, chairwoman of the health and wellbeing board, said: “The letter we’ve received from staff at Ireland Lodge dementia care home raises serious concerns.

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“We take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

“We are looking into these concerns as a matter of urgency under our safeguarding and our health and safety at work duties.

“The council’s general manager for health and adult social care is currently based at Ireland Lodge with daily oversight of operations and working closely with staff.

“The letter raises a range of concerns that do not reflect the care we see being given in a dedicated and professional way to Ireland Lodge residents.

“We are contacting all staff individually to talk through their concerns.

“We also would like to reassure families of those who are staying at Ireland Lodge that we are dedicated to providing care for their loved ones in a safe and kind way.

“We will be writing to all families with further reassurance at this difficult time.

“No residents at Ireland Lodge are currently showing any symptoms of Covid-19.

“There have been no new admissions to the home since April 8.

“New Government guidance for social care homes requires all new residents to be tested for Covid-19 before being admitted to care homes.”

  • The coronavirus Sussex Crisis Fund has been set up to help those affected by the pandemic. The Argus’s charity and American Express have each donated £50,000 to kick-start the appeal. Grants will usually be for up to £5,000. More information is available at www.sussexgiving. org.uk/apply. To donate visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/sussexcrisisfund