170% rise in deaths amongst people reliant on home care

There has been a 170 per cent rise in the number of people dying who receive home care, with 1,990 more deaths than the three-year average for 10 April to 8 May.

Over the past month, from 10 April (when data was first available) to 8 May, a total of 3,161 people receiving domiciliary care in England died, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is almost two thousand more deaths than the number of deaths (1,171) experienced by the home care sector for the same time period in the previous three years.

Some 593 (18 per cent) of the 3,161 fatalities involved COVID-19.

This is lower than the 43 per cent of deaths involving COVID-19 among care home residents notified to the CQC for the same time period.

The ONS figures are based on the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) collation of the notifications of deaths of those receiving care in a private home by a home care agency registered with the care regulator.

Home care deaths cause is 'anyone's guess'

Many people receiving home care are still not being tested for COVID-19, a point the United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) has highlighted, in response to the publication of the ONS figures.

Jane Townson, chief executive of the UKHCA (@drjane townson) tweeted: “Only deaths related to delivery of a regulated service in homecare have to be reported to CQC, not all deaths. Lack of testing in homecare means cause of death is anyone’s guess."