CARE homes in Herefordshire have been promised almost £3 million by the government to reduce the transmission of coronavirus.

This comes following heavy criticism of the government for its handling of the crisis in homes. The funding is part of a £600 million Infection Control Fund aimed at helping reduce the spread of the virus in care homes.

North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin said the money will help care homes and staff get the correct training and equipment.

He said: "Care staff are the heroes of this pandemic – working tirelessly to support those in our community who need it the most.

"I do not underestimate how challenging a time this is for people living and working in care. This new funding will make a real different to local care homes across Herefordshire.

"By putting in place stronger prevention, we can ensure that we continue to drive coronavirus out of our care homes, making them safer and better able to look after people who need it the most."

Herefordshire has 2,118 registered care home beds and the additional £2,718,590 of funding comes on top of £3.2 billion that has already been made available to local authorities to support key public services, including social care, since the start of the crisis.

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) there were 1,369 death notifications made to the CQC in the week ending May 15, and around 3,500 coronavirus-linked deaths of care home residents in hospitals leading up to May 1.

The Health Foundation said the figures suggest that "action has come too late to stem the avoidable loss of life for care home residents, and social care staff".

Chief executive Dr Jennifer Dixon said: "While no action plan could undo decades of political neglect, questions should be asked as to how many deaths could have been prevented had action been taken earlier."

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, who has a property in Herefordshire, said: “We have already provided councils with over £3.2 billion during this pandemic so that they can respond to the immediate pressures they are facing, including supporting social care.

“This new funding will be distributed to councils based on the number of care home beds in their area and will be passed on quickly to care providers. It will fund new measures to reduce the transmission of coronavirus in care homes, minimise infection, keep staff and residents safe and, ultimately, save lives.”