I know how important it has been to many constituents to be able to visit their loved ones in care homes and full updated guidance regarding visits has now been published (link below).
Arrangements should be based on the needs of residents and their families and further funding is being provided to help care homes facilitate visits. The broad principles care homes will be asked to apply are:
• Visitor numbers will be limited to one single constant visitor wherever possible, with a maximum of 2 constant visitors per resident.
• Visits should be planned in advance and are likely to be limited in frequency based on the specific circumstances of individual care homes.
• Masks must be worn and social distancing adhered to throughout the entire visit.
• Visits should happen in open air wherever possible e.g. gazebo or alternatively in a dedicated room that can be accessed from the outside, such as a conservatory.
• If an outbreak occurs in a care home, visiting must be restricted only to exceptional circumstances until the care home fully recovers.
In addition, a new national programme for weekly testing of professionals who regularly visit care homes, including community nurses and physiotherapists, will be rolled out in the coming weeks.
Plans are also being developed to allow specific family and friends to visit care homes supported by testing.
The full 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?fbclid=IwAR0AhcDKw0wJl6wDXxy8rjCU2dxRPjv25JH94RZXkf8TufLb1iK2jWb7M_8