A MANAGER at a nursing home devastated by coronavirus has slammed the Prime Minister’s “painful and ridiculous” attempt to shift the blame for Covid-19 deaths onto care homes.

Boris Johnson caused uproar on Monday when he said “too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures” amid the pandemic.

Almost 30,000 more care home residents in England and Wales died at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak than during the same period last year, ONS figures show.

The PM has attempted to row back on his remarks, saying the last thing he wanted to do was blame care workers – but has refused to apologise.

His words were felt deeply at Oaklands Nursing Home in Hove, where in March residents were infected in one of the country’s first care home outbreaks to make the headlines. At least one of those who showed symptoms died with the virus.

The Argus:

A manager at Oaklands, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s ridiculous. The Prime Minister is wrong to start accusing homes.

“We did our absolute best to prepare following the Government’s instructions – but they were confusing and not always accurate.

“The Government made mistakes – we all do. But they are not admitting their own mistakes when we have all been working so hard. All key workers have been doing their best.

“I can’t take what the Government says seriously any more.

“It was painful to hear the Prime Minister say that – but it would have been more painful to hear it from someone I respect.

“I don’t respect anything he says any more.”

Boris Johnson told the Commons that the Government took responsibility for its actions during the outbreak – but said the understanding of coronavirus had “changed dramatically”.

He said the Government now knows aspects about how coronavirus is passed between people without symptoms “that we just didn’t know” before.

But minutes from a January 28 meeting of SAGE, the scientific advisory group for emergencies, mentioned asymptomatic transmission, saying there were indications it was happening.

The Argus:

Mr Johnson’s remarks were branded a “real slap in the face” for care workers by the Independent Care Group.

Peter Kyle, the Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, said: “To see Boris Johnson victim-blame care home workers breaks my heart.

“Some gave their lives by continuing to serve residents despite the PPE and testing he promised not arriving.”