Coronavirus: Care homes in Wales can have indoor visits from 29 August

Care homes in Wales are allowed to have visits inside from Saturday 29 August, subject to COVID-19 levels remaining "favourable".

First minister Mark Drakeford, speaking during the Welsh Government coronavirus briefing today, said: “Care homes will be allowed to organised visits indoors for the first time in many months.

"We appreciate how hard it has been for families not seeing their loved ones and the impact restrictions on visiting care homes is having on people’s emotional, mental and even physical health.

"In an effort to address this we have been working closely with partners and intend to allow indoor visits to care homes to recommence from Saturday 29 August, subject to the strict controls set out in the guidance and conditions remaining favourable.

“In five of the last seven days no deaths of the virus have been reported here in Wales. While coronavirus remains effectively suppressed in Wales and cases continue to fall, the situation in the rest of the UK and further afield is still problematic.

But he warned: “We in Wales are not immune from the challenges being faced elsewhere".

Some residents are 'simply too frail' to meet outdoors

Responding to questions put to him at the briefing, Mr Drakeford said: "Reopening care homes for visits indoors, I think, is one of the most serious decisions we take.

"The majority of care homes in Wales have had no cases of coronavirus but we know that once coronavirus gets into a care home, then it's a very vulnerable population and we've seen the devastation that the virus can cause.

"There are care home residents and nursing home residents who are simply too frail to be able to meet in the outdoors.

"It's not an instruction. We're not ordering care homes to do it because every care home will need to make its own assessment but the permission is now there for those visits to take place.

"I know that there will be many families and many residents to whom this will make an enormous difference."

Care home visits stopped when the lockdown began on 23 March. Since 16 June, outdoor visits to care homes have been allowed. Care homes in England were permitted indoor visitors in July but currently most homes have only allowed outdoor visits.

'Cautiously welcome' opportunity for indoor visits

Care homes have responded to the Minister’s announcement with trepidation, as many are reluctant to take any action that increases their chance of being hurt by a second wave of the virus.

Mary Wimbury, chief executive of Care Forum Wales, which represents nearly 500 providers, has said visits must be properly “risk assessed” to ensure they do not place residents, families or staff at risk.

Mary Wimbury said: “Many care homes have facilitated socially distanced visits in outside areas to reunite residents and their families and there have been some deeply touching moments across Wales.

“However, we recognise that meeting outside is not always practical, particularly when the weather is not good. Enabling indoor visits can be important for the mental health and well-being of residents and their loved ones but it vitally important this is done safely.

“We cautiously welcome this opportunity to provide additional support to care home residents through risk-assessed indoor visits by professionals, family and friends. We are pleased we are being consulted by the Welsh Government on the guidance around when such visits might be permissible and appropriate.”