Government allows local health chiefs to 'override' its guidance encouraging care home visits

Too many people in care homes are still unable to have face-to-face contact with loved ones because some local health chiefs in England won’t allow it, despite new government guidance urging care homes to permit visitors.

Care England has said that in some parts of the country, directors of public health are not allowing visiting in care homes - effectively blocking homes who want to go ahead and have visitors.

‘Undoubtedly’ denies many people visits

Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England, which represents care homes, told carehome.co.uk: “The fact that local public health directors have discretion to override national policy on visiting, leads to confusion and will undoubtedly deny many people access to their loved ones who live in care homes“.

Government guidance was published last week by the Department for Health & Social Care (DHSC), aimed at supporting safe care home visits from loved ones during England’s second lockdown, which began on 5 November.

The guidance on visits states care homes can use floor-to-ceiling clear screens, visiting pods, window visits and outdoor visits to provide families with the chance to see their loved ones in a COVID-safe way. Residents are limited to an absolute maximum of two constant visitors, but as far as possible, one constant visitor should be maintained.

However, the government guidance does not make allowing visits obligatory.

Care homes must conduct a risk assessment that takes into account the views of the local director of public health (DPH). The guidance states 'DPHs also have powers to issue directions to homes to close to visiting'.

Care home managers must assess the prevalence of coronavirus in their local area and decisions around visiting should be taken with input from all parties including health professionals. If there is an outbreak in a care home, all visits must stop immediately.

Holly Lynch, Labour MP for Halifax, will speak in the parliamentary Westminster Hall debate about care home visits scheduled for 11 November. In a tweet, she invited the public to email her at holly.lynch.mp@parliament.uk with questions and concerns they would like raised at the debate.

The number of deaths of people living with dementia rose by 50 per cent in the last six months, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. It follows claims by families that care home visitor restrictions contributed to residents' health deteriorating.

The Alzheimer’s Society is urging the public to ask their local MP to attend a parliamentary debate on 12 November, which the dementia charity secured to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on families with dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Society stated: “People affected by dementia have been worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic – facing devastation at home, in their community and in care homes.

"The effects of the outbreak cannot be undone, but action can be taken. To make this happen, urgent solutions must be put in place to better protect, support and connect people affected by dementia during the pandemic.”