Battle care home loses half of its residents to Covid-19 over Christmas

Edendale Lodge care home, in Crowhurst, Battle, said 13 of its 27 residents died with ‘confirmed or suspected Covid-19’ between December 13 and Monday (January 4), operating managing director Adam Hutchison told The Guardian.

He told the paper that several of the deceased residents were considered to be ‘close to the end of their lives’, but the virus ‘took them months before they were likely to have died’. The other residents who died were fitter, he said.

The outbreak of Covid-19 cases was discovered by routine swab testing which, according to Mr Hutchison, returned 14 positive cases among residents, with none of them showing any symptoms.

He said 12 members of staff tested positive, with one being admitted to hospital, but they are now recovering.

Mr Hutchison told the paper: “It was an awful Christmas and terrible for the staff. It is just impossible. We are sitting ducks.”

Mr Hutchison has been approached for comment.

Belmont Healthcare, which operates the home, has also been approached for comment.