Minimum standards of English in care homes will not be raised despite the death of a 91-year-old woman after care workers struggled to describe her condition while calling 999.
So, we desperately need these people to work here, but if their lack of English language skills means they can't communicate, it's perfectly fine? What happened to 'Conservatives' to make them think this made any sense?
An inquest into the death of Barbara Rymell found that the primary school level of English required for a health and care visa was 'wholly inadequate' for those working in the 'direct care and protection of vulnerable people'. Mrs Rymell died at Ashley House Residential Home, in Langport, Somerset, on August 8, 2022, when she became trapped by a mechanical stairlift after a fall and staff were unable to free her.
Senior coroner for Somerset, Samantha Marsh, issued a prevention of future deaths report, warning the government that 'deaths will continue' without more rigorous language tests, The Guardian reports.
And the Home Office said 'Whoa, no! We might have to work a bit harder!':
Despite this, the Home Office has ruled out raising the required standard of English, telling the coroner that this would be 'very difficult' to assess and manage.Home Office minister Tom Pursglove said: 'We do not believe raising the level of the English language requirement for skilled workers would be appropriate.'
And that, Reader, is just one of the many, many reasons why the Tories are heading for electoral collapse.
Care Rights UK, which campaigns on behalf of residents and their families, said it was 'beyond comprehension' that ministers had rejected the call.
Oh, if only it was.
