Government urged to rethink 'pay to test' for care home visitors

Care bosses are urging the government to “rethink” its decision to ditch free lateral flow testing for care home visitors, calling the "tax on care" as "unfair" and "unjust".

The Prime Minister's announcement that free Covid-19 tests will end 1 April means people visiting loved ones in care settings, including care and nursing homes, will need to pay for a test to visit.

The current guidance for people visiting care homes states ‘visitors must be tested negative for COVID-19 using rapid lateral flow tests before entering the home at each visit.’

The Independent Care Group (ICG) chair Mike Padgham said: “Caring families have suffered enough without having this further indignity thrust upon them. This is penalising those who have suffered enough already.

“This cost is going to fall on those who are doing that most precious and vital thing – visiting a loved one. It is wrong on every level and shows the flagrant disregard the government has for the care sector.”

People over 80 or with compromised immune systems as well as NHS and care staff will remain eligible for free testing if they show Covid symptoms but care home visitors will not be included.

Mr Padgham said: “If in a civilised society, we cannot enable people to visit their loved ones without having to bear the cost of measures to keep them safe, then we are in a sorry state indeed.

“What happens to a family – maybe two or three people – who want to visit a beloved father, mother or grandparent two, three or even four times a week? Are we saying unless you pay up you can’t?

“This is treating social care with contempt and we urge the government to rethink it immediately.”

'Stop this tax on caring'

One high street chemist has revealed it will charge £17 for a pack of four LFTs , with other online outlets charging £5.99 for one test.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said the government has "forgotten" that visitors to care homes need testing so they can "safely visit their relatives".

He said: "This must be funded by the government because it will be part of its strategy of living with Covid.”

Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said it was simply “unjust and unfair” to force people to pay hundreds of pounds a year to safely visit their loved ones and calls on the government to "stop this tax on caring".

He added: “It will make vulnerable people more alienated, more lonely, and act as a barrier for family and friends getting together.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “We have done everything we can to protect people receiving care and staff, and it is vital this continues. While the majority of people in care homes are vaccinated, the risk of transmission from Covid-19 remains higher than in the general population so the current protections will remain.

“We continue to review our Covid-19 measures in line with the latest advice, and will provide details in due course.”

To read the current care home visiting guidance for England, click here

click here for more details or to contact Saint Cecilia's Care Group