Boris Johnson told to avoid 'deadly mistake' and scrap care home visitors' testing bill

Covid tests could cost care home visitors £73 a month from 1 April after the government decided to free testing for care home visitors but charities warn Prime Minister Boris Johnson not to repeat a 'deadly mistake' that could hurt residents.

Boris Johnson, is scrapping free Lateral Flow Tests for the public on 1 April as part of the government's 'Living with Covid-19' plan but charities have warned that without free testing, families will struggle to offer emotional support to residents if they face extra charges on top of rising living costs.

Families should not be 'financially penalised'

With thousands of people discharged from hospitals into care homes early in the pandemic without being tested for Covid-19, the Alzheimer’s Society has warned against repeating a "deadly mistake”.

“Lateral flow tests offer vital reassurance to families desperate to protect their loved ones with dementia from Covid", said Fiona Carragher, director of research and influencing at Alzheimer’s Society

“Following the devastating levels of infection and deaths in care homes that was caused by insufficient testing in the early part of the pandemic, there is a risk that we face repeating this deadly mistake.

“Families should not be financially penalised for trying to do their best and keep their vulnerable loved ones safe.”

People living with dementia make up at least 70 per cent of care home residents. Boots pharmacy will sell five lateral flow tests for £12 but for someone visiting their loved one daily this would potentially cost £73 a month.

A recent poll by Alzheimer’s Society reveals 70 per cent of the public disagree with the government’s decision to end free tests for care home visitors.

Charity's petition gets over 8,300 signatures

The dementia charity has launched a petition demanding free testing for care home visitors, which so far (16 March) has gathered over 8,300 signatures.

The Alzheimer’s Society argues that for care home residents, visits from loved ones ‘are essential to their health and wellbeing, with increasing evidence demonstrating people’s symptoms of dementia had worsened during the pandemic due to long periods of isolation away from loved ones who were unable to visit’.

Charities have suggested the government could provide tests to care homes or send weekly tests to essential caregivers.

The Department of Health and Social Care advises that testing for care home visitors is needed, however this is under review.

In response to the government's decision, Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s charity director, said: “If care home visitors are going to continue to be asked to keep testing to protect their loved ones, it would be completely unacceptable to expect them to pay.”

Care homes demand 'clarity' on Covid support funds

Meanwhile Martin Green, the chief executive of Care England which represents care homes, has called for "immediate clarity to be given" as to whether the COVID-19 support funds will continue after 31 March.

Martin Green said: "The Government’s plan, Living with COVID-19, did little to reassure the sector that support would remain in place, most notably the continuation of asymptomatic testing."

He said the discontinuation of free asymptomatic testing will lead to care providers facing "financial and emotional challenges" which can be avoided by government intervention.

Mr Green added: "Care home occupancy levels are still 5-10 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, workforce attrition and vacancies remain over 30 per cent and 10 per cent respectively causing a further devastating financial burden onto already stretched care home providers.”