Councils order care homes to ban visitors

Care homes are being told by councils to shut their doors again to visitors, just weeks after families were allowed in to see residents.

The councils’ actions prompted by a rise in coronavirus cases in their areas, come weeks after families were given the green light to go back into care homes.

Letters seen by ITV News from councils in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and other areas state family visits must now be cancelled.

This week, Newcastle City council wrote in a letter: ‘Infection rates in the North East region have been increasing. The increase in infection rates appears to be most pronounced in younger adults, particularly those aged 20-29, who may form part of the provider staff team.

'Due to the increase in infection rates we are now asking that homes temporarily suspend non-essential visits to support infection prevention and control’.

Sunderland City Council sent a letter to 84 care homes in the area, telling them to stop all 'non-essential' visits.

Gateshead Council said in its letter: ‘We’re afraid that we must advise that the local situation has changed, and in the past week our case rate has climbed from 6.4/100k to over 30/100k, so we now ask that you suspend visiting to protect residents.’

In an email sent to a care home, Gateshead Council told the care home even outdoor visits are not allowed.

The email read: 'The Director of Public Health has written out to all homes to ban all visits apart from End of Life so these need to stop now. Can you please let the home managers know and cancel visits ASAP.'

National guidance being 'countermanded by local authorities'

In July, the government announced it was allowing visits to loved ones in care homes.

Earlier this week, it was reported campaign group John’s Campaign launched a legal challenge against the government over its care home visitor guidance.

Care England’s chief executive Martin Green told ITV News: “The news that some local authorities are now sending out statements banning visits is another example of the disarray within government policy on this issue.

"It is impossible for care homes to know what to do when the government issues national guidance on visiting, which is then countermanded by local authorities.”