Decision to exclude care home inspectors from weekly COVID-19 testing is 'extraordinary'

The decision to exclude Care Quality Commission inspectors from weekly testing for coronavirus has been criticised as “extraordinary” and “very counter-productive”.

The National Care Forum has written an open letter to Matt Hancock, Secretary of State of Health and Social Care, and Helen Whately, Minister for Care, calling for a reversal of the decision.

Vic Rayner, executive director at the NCF said: “We welcome scrutiny and oversight by the regulator and we all want the CQC to be able to regulate effectively. However, this must include routine regular testing for those inspectors tasked with conducting on-site inspection visits to care settings.

“Current DHSC policy to limit the spread of COVID and backed by the £600m Infection Control Fund instigated a whole- home testing regime designed to test all staff within care homes, regardless of role. By not testing CQC inspectors, who spend a number of hours on-site in care homes, moving between different groups of residents and staff, and who will be visiting potentially multiple homes and therefore have the potential to transmit the virus as part of their visits, both within care homes and between care homes undermines the policy.”

Over 20,000 care home residents have died from COVID-19 and many care homes in England have not even opened their doors yet to visitors and are taking stringent measures to keep their residents safe.

Ms Rayner adds: "So not providing regular testing for CQC inspectors is an extraordinary decision.

“For months central government and the regulator have been requiring care homes to essentially eradicate the movement of staff and the flow of people, including close family relatives, into homes. Having done this, care homes are now being asked to let inspectors into homes without knowing whether or not they are COVID positive.

“Understandably they are both shocked and hugely concerned. If Inspectors are coming in, they need to be tested – there should be no further debate about this.”

In response, a CQC spokesperson said: “DHSC has advised that CQC inspectors do not meet the criteria for regular weekly asymptomatic testing, as inspectors are not required to undertake ‘hands on’ close personal contact with people. We remain in regular contact with DHSC on this and will continue to keep this under review.

“All CQC staff engaging in inspection and registration visits must undertake a risk assessment prior to the visit. They must use the PPE identified, have gone through training on its use, and have completed the Infection Prevention and Control training.”

The Department for Health and Social Care added: “Regular asymptomatic testing for professionals who visit care homes is not currently available through the National Testing programme. This is based on clinical advice regarding relative priority and available testing capacity.”