Close partnership work between care providers, Lincolnshire County Council and health partners ensured the care sector was resilient in supporting vulnerable people through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Joint collaboration with health colleagues has ensured vaccinations have been carried out at care homes in the county while good progress has been made to vaccinate other vulnerable settings and key workers.

Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Health and Adult Care, added: "From the start of the pandemic we have been in constant contact with care homes and our home care providers to support them through our biggest ever health challenge. And all providers have risen magnificently to this challenge with partner support.

"Our infection prevention and control team, working closely with our partners, have provided quick, effective support when outbreaks are reported so that they are kept under control.

"We've recognised the need to support care homes with increased costs from the beginning and have distributed £24.6m funding from government to help us to reduce and prevent coronavirus outbreaks and protect residents as much as possible.

"A full programme of training, support with accessing coronavirus test kits and PPE, plus providing Facebook portals and digital technology to help with care support and keeping families in touch, has made a big difference.

"We are fully behind the call for further support for our care sector to ensure it is well prepared for future resilience in being able to provide the very best care for vulnerable people."

Melanie Weatherley, Chair of the Lincolnshire Care Association, wrote to Lincolnshire MPs at the height of the pandemic to outline the joint efforts and ask for their support in Parliament to raise the potential risks to providers financially and coping with sometimes scarce resources.

Mrs Weatherley explained: "It was important to make our elected representatives aware of the fantastic efforts of our providers and partners in the most challenging circumstances we have ever faced."

"I also asked for their support for our care sector to be robust enough to cope with a further wave of Covid-19 and to be well resourced for future needs."

"Throughout the last ten months, care providers have gone the extra mile, acting as close a substitute as possible for family and friends unable to visit their loved ones.

She continued: "The support of the county council's infection control team and in funding additional costs experienced by providers has been invaluable.

"Indeed, the close partnership working between providers, the county council, the Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group and the NHS Trusts has been hugely important."

"Our care providers and their staff have responded admirably, working tirelessly and selflessly to keep the vulnerable people in their care safe during these challenging times. Staff resilience has been nothing short of amazing."