Earlier this month, the Liberal Democrats raised grave concerns at a Special County Council meeting about the reported high level of deaths in the care sector in Hertfordshire.

With well over 500 Covid-19 deaths reported in the Hertfordshire care sector, Liberal Democrats have called for an independent inquiry into why there were so many.

There could be a number of reasons for so many deaths. One factor could have been the early discharge of well over 100 patients from hospital to care homes with no testing. Likewise was there an issue with the lack of PPE early on and did that contribute? No one yet knows for sure which was the most critical factor, so it would be wrong to speculate. That is why we need an independent review to establish all the facts.

It’s 500 deaths too many. We need to know if this number of deaths and suffering could have been avoided and how. Were all the actions needed to minimise them taken?

Clearly there could be a number of reasons for that but no one yet knows for sure why so it’s wrong to speculate. We need an independent review to establish all the facts.

The plain fact is we do not know. With over 500 Covid-related deaths in the care sector in Herts this needs investigating. It’s 500 too many. We need to know if this number of deaths and suffering could have been avoided and how. Were all the actions needed to minimise them taken?

An inquiry would help us all understand that and help us learn and put in place better protection for our vulnerable in the care sector. It will also help families understand what occurred and help in their grief and loss.

The leading Conservatives on Herts County Council admitted deaths were high especially, in the Watford and Hertsmere areas, compared to other districts in Hertfordshire. Yet they rejected this call.

So we have launched an online petition, similar to demands in other areas for an independent inquiry and we urge all residents to support our call.

You can sign up online at: https://hertslibdems.org.uk/covid-petition

If nothing else we all need to learn from the Covid-19 pandemic and prepare for a better health system in the future that looks after everyone in every setting.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Hertfordshire County Council

County Councillor for Central Watford and Oxhey