Family members or friends of those living in care homes will be
given regular testing to reunite them with their loved ones in
care homes as a new pilot launches on Monday.
The pilot is taking place in around 20 care homes across
Hampshire, Cornwall and Devon from Monday and will be rolled out
more widely in December in time for Christmas.
Regular testing will be offered to one family member or friend
per resident, which when combined with other infection control
measures such as PPE, will support meaningful visits, including
where possible indoor visits without a screen to take place while
reducing the risk to care home residents, staff and visitors.
Visitors will be offered either PCR tests which they can do at
home, or the new 30 minute rapid lateral flow tests (LFTs) which
can be administered in person at care homes before a visit.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“I know how heart-breaking restricting visits to care homes has
been, not only for residents, many of whom will feel disoriented
and confused by the situation, but also their loved ones who
aren’t able to simply hug each other to support them in this
difficult time.
“Thanks to the expanding testing capacity we have in place we can
now begin to trial a new way to allow safer visits to take place
and prevent the spread of COVID-19. I must stress this is only
possible if the public takes the right actions now to bring the
transmission rate under control while national restrictions are
in place.
“By respecting social distancing and staying at home as much as
possible we will help reunite families and friends with loved
ones in care homes as quickly as possible.”
We will be encouraging and supporting care homes, to facilitate
visits to go ahead in a COVID secure way wherever possible.
Minister for Care, said:
“The pandemic has torn many lives apart but few have been more
affected than people living in care homes and their families. I
know visits from loved ones are what makes life worth living for
many care home residents, yet these have been few and far between
over the last few months. Visits with a screen or window are
better than nothing for many, but they are too confusing or
simply impossible for people with advanced dementia.
“That’s why on Monday we are starting visitor testing, firstly in
around 20 care homes across Hampshire, Cornwall and Devon. Each
resident will be able to have one relative or friend who can be
their ‘key visitor’ who will take a Covid-test, and then be able
to come for an indoor visit without a screen.
“Covid is a cruel disease that takes those who are most
vulnerable, particularly older people, and it’s hard to stop it
spreading in people’s homes, whether that’s a family home or even
in a care home. That’s why there have had to be restrictions on
visiting, but also why we are putting care home visitors front of
the queue as we bring more tests on stream.
“As Christmas approaches, I want to bring an end to the pain of
separation and help care homes bring families and loved ones
together. The launch of visitor testing is a crucial step to
making that happen.”
The pilot, which forms part of plans to roll out mass testing
technology across the country, has been made possible thanks to a
huge expansion in the country’s testing capacity, which currently
stands at over 500,000 per day.
Each care home receiving lateral flow tests will receive a box of
675 initially and will be given access to more as required.
It will take place in local authorities with lower transmission
rates to ensure it can be done as safely as possible and care
staff are being trained to ensure tests are administered safely
and accurately.
It will further develop the evidence base for how testing with
fast, reliable COVID-19 tests can be delivered at scale.
If successful, care home testing will be rolled out in a phased
way across the country.
Any decision on a national rollout will be taken in light of the
latest available data on transmission rates as a result of
national COVID-19 restrictions.
Exact details of the national rollout will be published in due
course and will be guided by the pilot. It is anticipated the
lateral flow tests will be used across the country to support
rapid access. If these faster tests work in this setting we will
ring fence supply to open up more chances for visiting.
-Ends-
Notes to editor
- Protecting staff and residents has been a priority throughout
the pandemic and we ringfence 120,000 tests every day solely for
the care sector.
- We have introduced guidance intended to enable and encourage
providers – supported by local professionals, families and the
wider community – to provide appropriate visiting opportunities,
that balance these important benefits against the continued
priority of preventing infections to protect staff and residents.
- We want care homes to use this guidance and make visiting
possible. We want them to follow the example of those who have
done this successfully.
- Further details of this guidance can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus/update-on-policies-for-visiting-arrangements-in-care-homes
Providers can already access free PPE - we announced in Adult
Social Care Winter Plan care providers would be able to access
free PPE until March through our government portal:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-coronavirus-covid-19-winter-plan-2020-to-2021/adult-social-care-our-covid-19-winter-plan-2020-to-2021
