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Covid tests for care home visitors no longer free of charge
With the general supply of free lateral flow tests having ended on 1 April, there are growing calls for the Government to continue to make free Covid tests available to care home visitors.
Although people belonging to certain
vulnerable groups will be exempt from any charges should they become symptomatic, the same will not apply for relatives wishing to visit family members in care homes. With a pack of four tests currently being sold by Boots for around £8, the costs for regular visitors could soon become prohibitive, potentially putting their elderly relatives at risk. No doubt the Government’s current stance
has been informed by data trends showing a decline in the numbers of care home staff testing positive for Covid. In the week ending 22 February, there were 7,134 positive test results among staff - less than half the number seen in the week ending 4 January. However, as far as care home residents were concerned, over the same period there were 1,637 positive test results, which represents only a limited reduction, suggesting that Covid infections amongst care home residents are starting to plateau. A Government spokesperson said: “As set out in the government’s Living with Covid plan, the approach to managing Covid-19
News
in adult social care services will continue to evolve in the coming months. We will continue to focus on providing care for those that need it and supporting people who are most vulnerable to Covid -19.”
Minister “dismissive” of proposed care law change
Calls for a change in the law to give care home residents the legal right to unrestricted visits from a care giver have been dashed by the government. Arriving towards the end of a Westminster meeting between cross-party MPs and campaign groups (including Rights for Residents, John’s Campaign, and the Relatives & Residents Association) in early March, care minister Gillian Keegan told attendees that it was “not as simple as putting laws in place”. The minister’s response was labelled
“dismissive” by some of those present, many of whom have been calling for action after the Covid pandemic saw their access to dying relatives being severely restricted. Ruthie Henshall, whose mother passed away in care during the pandemic, said that
she would not give up the fight for a change in law to ensure “that nobody in care is ever on their own again”.
Rights for Residents co-founder Diane
Mayhew said the minister’s response had left her “saddened and devastated”, adding that “I think it’s unfortunate that [the minister] could only spare us fifteen minutes and unfortunately those fifteen minutes were at the very end and it was after everyone had spoken, so she hadn’t heard all the devastating stories and trauma that people have been through. “I think as the care minister to say that she gets it when she clearly doesn’t is quite offensive. I got quite emotional when she said that because it’s coming up to the anniversary of my dad’s death and I didn’t even get to say goodbye to him.”
Spring boost for care
home residents The NHS is now offering additional Covid booster jabs to care home residents. Aiming to keep Covid rates as low as possible amongst the elderly and vulnerable, the NHS will also make the extra booster available to all over 75s and anybody over 12 who is immunosuppressed. In total, this move means that some five million people will be offered the additional jab. Those eligible will be contacted, the NHS
says.
According to Sajid Javid, secretary of state for health: “Our phenomenal vaccination programme has saved countless lives and built a wall of defence which has allowed us to learn to live with Covid. “Following the massive success of the rollout so far, we are now offering over 75s and the most vulnerable a spring booster dose to top up their protection against this virus.” Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive,
added: “The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme has not stopped in its efforts to protect people from coronavirus – around five million of the most vulnerable people will be eligible for a spring dose and from tomorrow, we will start giving eligible groups their additional top up in protection. “We have protected millions of people at
speed thanks to the efforts of our staff, aided by volunteers."
April 2022
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