#LeadersInLockdown: Andy Burnham says lessons must be learnt in our care homes in wake of pandemic
EXCLUSIVE: The Mayor of Greater Manchester's told us lessons must be learnt in our care homes to protect our most vulnerable in the future.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester's told us lessons must be learnt in our care homes to protect our most vulnerable in the future.
In an exclusive sit down interview for our #LeadersInLockdown special Andy Burnham called for major reforms to the social care system - so that it mirrors the NHS.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal more than 1,200 residents died in Greater Manchester's care homes between February 2020 and January 2021.
At the start of the pandemic hundreds of patients were discharged from hospitals into care homes in a bid to free up beds.
Meanwhile, care home staff faced major delays in getting vital PPE.
Speaking to Hits Radio Mayor Andy Burnham said big changes are needed across the country: "We need a funding settlement for social care which mirrors the NHS.
"If anything the pandemic has really shown to us how our social care system isn't set up to care for people in the way that it should."
After witnessing the scenes our care homes and frontline workers faced Andy Burnham says it's only right that improvements are made in the wake of the pandemic.
"It was very much exposed in the middle of last year that parts of the system just simply doesn't have the resources to do the job. We need a national care service.
"What we don't want ever to see again in this country is care homes at the mercy of this virus, or any other virus, because they didn't have the equipment to protect their staff."
#LeadersInLockdown: Your questions answered
Mayor Andy Burnham has been taking your questions in an exclusive sit down interview on the recovery of Greater Manchester.
How much has coronavirus cost our economy?
How long will it take to recover?
What job opportunities will be available for young people?
What changes should be made to improve social care?
What boxsets got him through the last 12 months?
Watch the video from 8am today and find out.