MHA chief urges government to reduce isolation period for care homes

UK’s charity care provider MHA is calling on the government to review its Covid-19 visiting restrictions after 70 per cent of its care homes closed the doors to new admissions, forcing older people to stay in "hospital longer" than necessary.

According to the latest government guidelines, any care home which experiences an outbreak should close its doors to indoor visitors for up to 28 days after the last positive case, except for ‘essential care givers’ or if a resident is at the end of life. Day-to-day visitors are also restricted to just three named people.

In comparison, the government announced on 22 December that anyone in England who tests positive will be able to leave self-isolation after seven days if they receive two negative lateral flow results, 24 hours apart, on days six and seven.

MHA chief executive Sam Monaghan said: “We are in a situation again where, for prolonged periods at a time, older people living in care homes across the country are unable to have visits with their family and friends. This is particularly tough for people living with dementia and their loved ones, whose connections are an important part of their care."

The charity care provider warns approximately 63 per cent of its care homes are currently deemed to be experiencing an outbreak of Covid-19.

Mr Monaghan said this is a "huge disparity" allowing the general population to end isolation after seven days.

"We need the government to look again at the scientific evidence and review whether these differing approaches are really required.

“The current rules around outbreaks also mean that care homes find themselves closed to new admissions, leaving older people staying in hospital longer than necessary or not getting the care that they need.”

Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said hospitals had reported that delayed discharges were significantly adding to the pressure.

He warned that "patient outcomes deteriorate if patients are medically fit to discharge but can’t leave hospital.”

Vic Rayner, chief executive of the National Care Forum, said this situation is also difficult for unpaid carers who are under “enormous pressure” who can’t get respite or find places for “loved ones to get the round the clock care.”

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