THE tragic coronavirus death toll across Cheshire care homes has been revealed by the nation’s care watchdog.

The Care Quality Commission said it was publishing figures on death notifications it received from named homes for the first time in a bid to be transparent, following earlier requests to share the data.

The organisation said releasing the information earlier in the pandemic could have had a 'serious impact on continuity of care' but it is doing so now as risks have changed.

More than 78,500 care home residents died in England between April 10, 2020 and March 31, 2021, with around 7,000 care homes registering at least one death related to coronavirus.

In Cheshire East, 417 care home residents died with Covid-19 during this period.

The highest number of fatalities, 277, was recorded between April 10 and June 30 last year, during the early weeks of the pandemic.

Overall, 67 individual care homes in the area reported at least one Covid-19 related death.

In Cheshire West and Chester, 302 care home residents died with Covid-19 during this period.

The highest number of fatalities, 153, was also recorded between April 10 and June 30 last year.

Overall, 54 individual care homes in the area reported at least one Covid-19 related death.

The following care homes in Northwich and Winsford in Cheshire West recorded five or more deaths in the year to the end of March:

  • Acorn Hollow General Nursing Home in Lostock Gralam (six)
  • Daneside Court Nursing Home in Northwich (six)
  • Davenham Hall Nursing Home in Davenham (eight)
  • Gleavewood Residential Care Home in Weaverham (five)
  • Lostock Lodge Care Home in Lostock Gralam (nine)
  • Overdene House in Winsford (six)
  • Redwalls Nursing Home in Northwich (six)
  • Sandiway Lodge Nursing Home in Northwich (nine)
  • Winsford Grange Care Home in Winsford (seven)

The following care homes in Knutsford and Wilmslow in Cheshire East recorded 10 or more deaths in the year to the end of March:

  • Eden Mansions Nursing Home in Wilmslow (19)
  • The Willows in Knutsford (19)

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, which represents independent care homes, said the figures must not be seen as an indication of quality.

He said: "It is important that the statistics are seen in context and that the entire system learns lessons from this data.

"I would like to pay tribute to all the frontline staff who have done a heroic job and it must not be forgotten that many of them lost their lives too.”

The CQC said infection control inspections were carried out throughout the pandemic and the body praised the efforts of care home staff.

Kate Terroni, CQC’s chief inspector for adult social care, called for 'consideration and respect' to be shown to care home residents, their families, and staff.

She said: "We are grateful for the time that families who lost their loved ones during the pandemic have spent meeting with us and the personal experiences they have shared.

"These discussions have helped us shape our thinking around the highly sensitive issue of publishing information on the numbers of death notifications involving Covid-19 received from individual care homes."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said the Government has done "all it can" to protect vulnerable people in adult social care throughout the pandemic.

"We have provided billions of pounds to support the sector, including on infection and prevention control measures, free PPE, priority vaccinations and additional testing," she added.