MORE than 130 care home residents have died with coronavirus in Trafford, according to new data from the health watchdog.

The 'heartbreaking' toll was revealed in a report released by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) earlier in the week.

In the report is a breakdown of all coronavirus-related deaths recorded at care homes across the whole of the country between April 10 last year and the end of March this year.

It includes the coronavirus-related deaths of care home residents who died in other settings, such as hospitals.

The highest number of deaths at a single care home in Trafford was 18, recorded at Manorhey Care Centre, a large care home with accommodation for more than 80 residents.

Clinton Taylor, group clinical director of Maria Mallaband Care Group, which runs the home, said each death was a 'sad loss'.

He said: "Our priority is to care for everyone living and working in our homes.

"Through the pandemic, our dedicated staff have worked to strict guidance and instructions from the clinical team at head office - instructions that were successfully implemented across the whole group.

"As much as we tried to protect everyone equally, sadly it was those who had existing health issues or were being given palliative care that were affected most by the virus.

"Each passing was a very sad loss for the families, and everyone at the homes.

"The majority of those who unfortunately passed away did so during the first wave in April and May 2020, a time when evidence and guidance was changing regularly and so much remained to be understood about the virus.

"The homes were quick to adapt and manage the pandemic throughout the rest of last year and this year."

Mr Taylor added Maria Mallaband's care homes are now 'free' from coronavirus, with around 92 per cent of residents vaccinated.

Deaths in double figures were recorded at three other care homes in Trafford - Allingham House (11), Timperley Care Home (11) and Handsworth Care Home (10).

All of these care homes are either large, with more than 50 beds, or medium, meaning the number of beds is between 11 and 49.

There were 139 coronavirus-related deaths recorded at care homes in Trafford in total, according to the data.

This is the lowest of the boroughs of Greater Manchester and around 150 lower than in the highest - Wigan.

One care home in Wigan recorded 44 coronavirus-related deaths, the highest of all care homes in the country.

The CQC released the data 'to be transparent' and 'to act in the public interest', after earlier pressure from the public and media.

It stressed that the data is not a reliable indicator of a care home's quality, and that other factors such as care home size or residents' age and health might influence the data.

Responding to the data, a spokesperson for Trafford Council said: "The death of every person living in a care home is heartbreaking for their family and friends, as well as for the staff and carers who looked after them and ourselves as a council.

"In Trafford, we worked together to minimise transmissions as much as possible. This included providing PPE, infection control guidance and support to care homes, as well as ensuring all residents were tested before being transferred out of hospital from March 20, 2020.

"Trafford care homes were and remain under extreme, unprecedented pressure and have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of residents and staff. We are very grateful to them.

"We will continue to work with care homes to help ensure residents are able to spend time with their loved ones, while the risk of coronavirus is reduced as much as possible."