Page 3 - Community Living Magazine 33-4

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Responses to Covid-19 run from

ISSN 0951-9815
Volume 33, no 4, summer 2020 magnificence to startling ignorance

Published by
CL Initiatives Ltd hen societies are under threat as they are today, their resilience, tolerance
No 6 The Square and unity are tested to the utmost.
Waterhouse Green W Those who are already in a precarious social position, such as people with
Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley
Lancashire PR6 7LF learning disabilities, face a double threat. They are not only at risk from the virus that
Tel 0125 727 0430 threatens everyone – they are also at risk of being left behind and cast aside as
resources tighten and ideas of social solidarity are put under strain.
Subscription enquiries
Rosemary Trustam What can we say about the experience of people with learning disabilities so far
Tel 0125 727 0430 under the extreme circumstances of Covid-19? The balance sheet is mixed.
rosecli@btinternet.com Much has been good. The coalition of organisations and individuals who comprise
CL Initiatives Ltd
(address as above) the learning disability community have largely responded magnificently.
Everywhere, we are seeing ingenuity, adaptability, flexibility and total commitment
Editor (pages 10-12, 14-15). From online dance sessions run by performers with learning
Simon Jarrett
simonjarrett1@outlook.com disabilities to staff going voluntarily into lockdown with people who require support
while shielding, we can justifiably applaud the extraordinary achievements of people in
Production editor and designer extraordinary times. They have ensured that people with learning disabilities have not
Christy Lawrance
www.clcomms.com been forgotten.
Changes to rules on
Social media editor welfare benefits as well as There are stories of excellent hospital care
Rosemary Trustam
t @CommLivingmag support for people in work but it will be some time before the true
f www.facebook.com/ show a flexibility that
CommunityLivingMagazine governments would be well picture emerges. We have seen enough

Research advised to follow outside “do not resuscitate” and neglect scandals
Julie Ridley times of crisis, and which
Reader in social policy and practice, University have long been called for by to prevent us from feeling overconfident
of Central Lancashire
this magazine and others.
Photographer When medical guidance
Seán Kelly was issued, there were fears its definition of “frailty” might lead to treatment being
www.seankellyphotos.com
withheld from any person with a learning disability. These fears have been somewhat
Cartoonist/illustrator assuaged by stories of excellent hospital treatment and recovery (pages 10-12).
Robin Meader However, these are anecdotal. It will be some time before the true picture emerges,
robinmeaderartist@gmail.com
and we have seen enough “do not resuscitate” and neglect scandals to prevent us from
Legal correspondent feeling overconfident. The Care Quality Commission has reported a large spike in mortality
Belinda Schwehr LLM rates of people with learning disabilities but has, so far, given no context or clarification.
Legal framework trainer and consultant
Care and Health Law
belinda@careandhealthlaw.com Not hospital overspill
The Westminster Society’s battle to keep support going to hundreds of people in inner
Publisher
Rosemary Trustam London (pages 10-12) shows the finest qualities – ingenuity, flexibility, utter commitment
rosecli@btinternet.com – in the most demanding circumstances. Yet we see here also some of the problems. There
has been extreme pressure from the NHS and councils to accommodate people leaving
Editorial Board
Jo Clare, chief executive, Three Cs hospital without them having had a Covid-19 test, putting those around them at huge risk.
Noelle Blackman, chief executive, Respond There has been a failure by the health sector to understand the ethos, values and
Jo Adshead, chief executive, Linkability even the structures of social care. Supported living has been a mystery to them. While
Sue Pemberton, chief executive, Integrate
Debbie Forde, senior lecturer, School of Social NHS frontline staff and the teams backing them have been superb, the health service as
Work, University of Central Lancashire a whole has shown an alarmingly neglectful disregard and incomprehension towards
Helen Atherton, lecturer in nursing, University social care. This may well have led to unnecessary deaths.
of Leeds
Sally Warren, managing director, Paradigm Around one in four Covid-19 deaths in England and Wales and about half of those in
Rosemary Trustam Scotland have occurred in “care homes” (the government’s generic term for
Gill Levy accommodation with social care). Emerging social care death scandals in France,
Gabby Machell, chief executive, Westminster
Society Sweden, Italy, Spain, Canada and the US suggest this is a global problem.
Lynne Tooze, independent sexual violence If the world is to change after this terrible virus has gone, it must begin to see people
adviser, Respond with learning disabilities and others with vulnerabilities not as patients needing
Isabelle Garnett
Simon Jarrett treatment and speedy discharge to low-cost support but as citizens to whom society
has a duty to adapt itself and accommodate.
Printed by We must not revert to where we were. Society’s newfound respect for social care
Character Graphics, Taunton,
Tel 01823 279008 staff and those they support must continue. That will mean decent not minimum
wages, an end to brutal medical confinement and a spirit of acceptance and inclusion.
© CL Initiatives Ltd 2020
Registered charity no 1141176
Company no 7530680 Simon Jarrett
Editor
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 33 No 4 | Summer 2020 3