Care home families to be priority to aid visits MPs told

RELATIVES OF care home residents could be given priority for regular Covid- 19 testing to help them visit their loved ones, a health Minister has suggested.

Helen Whately told MPs she is making the case for some regular visitors to care homes to receive tests as testing capacity expands. She faced pleas to classify relatives as key workers, giving them access to regular testing.

Labour also urged Ministers to “lift the blanket ban” on care home visits in lockdown areas of England, while Conservative MP Sarah Dines advised “a bit more humanity” is required in the Government’s approach.

Speaking in the Commons, Shadow Health Minister Liz Kendall said: “Families with loved ones in care homes are desperate to start visiting again, but there’s a ban from doing so in swathes of the country with extra restrictions. Now, the Government’s own carers advisory group says visits are essential for residents’ health and to make them safe relatives should be treated like key workers with regular testing.

“So please, will the minister now put that testing in place and lift the blanket ban on care home visits in lockdown areas so we help bring all families back together again?”

Ms Whately replied: “We are striking this very difficult balance between protecting those in care homes and making sure that wherever it’s possible they should have visits, but it must be done safely. I have heard from the sector about the aspiration for some family members to be treated as care workers, for instance, if they visit their care home regularly.

“As we expand testing I very much intend to and am making the case that I’d like us to be able to test some visitors, but it’s all part of how we can expand and use our testing resources.”