Testing to support care home visits: CPA response
14 November 2020
Plans to allow care home visiting with appropriate testing plans have been accelerated - and not before time.
Recent announcements by the Department of Health and Social Care about testing to support care home visits will provide a structured approach and be welcome news to many care providers’ clients and families.
The Care Provider Alliance (CPA) recognises that for some families and providers, these development will, unfortunately, be too late.
The CPA supports Government measures that have allowed care home visits to continue during the four-week national lockdown.
Kathy Roberts, CPA Chair, also welcomes the focus on city-wide asymptomatic testing programme such as Liverpool is trialling, and the new lateral flow rapid testing pilots launching on Monday 16th November, initially taking place in 20 care homes across Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall, with the scheme being rolled out to other regions before Christmas, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
Speaking about the developments, Kathy said:
“We hope this pilot will rapidly be deployed to many people in care settings of all ages and complex conditions. They have been isolated most of this year and unable to have routine regular interaction with their loved ones.
“We hope more pragmatic guidance will enable care providers to choose the most appropriate risk-assessed processes to enable meaningful visits which do not have impractical conditions or could cause any unnecessary discomfort to vital visits.
“Many of our citizens with conditions such as autism, leading disabilities, hearing impairments or dementia would be disoriented by new screening guidance and we believe flexibility and service specific infection control measures will enable the benefits of visiting to enhance lives once again.”
Earlier this month, the CPA joined over 60 organisations to call for greater support to enable care homes to safely facilitate care home visits during COVID-19 restrictions. The coalition was brought together by CPA member, the National Care Forum. And called on the Government to ensure that care homes are supported to enable visits by families and loved ones, now and in the future.
Notes to Editors§
About CPA§
The Care Provider Alliance (CPA) brings together the 10 main national associations, which represent independent and voluntary adult social care providers in England. We work to represent the sector and ensure a coordinated response to the major issues that affect it.
The CPA bring together the ten national associations, which represent private, voluntary and community sector providers. We speak for the whole of the adult social care sector including care homes, home care services, Shared Lives schemes and retirement communities.
CPA members cover almost 10,000 organisations, employ over 600,000 staff and support an estimated 1 million people.
Contact§
For more information on the Care Provider Alliance visit the About us section of our website.
Media contact: info@careprovideraliance.org.uk