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Staff will be told to halt “near essential” movement between nursing homes to protect residents during a feared second coronavirus spike.
New stricter restrictions are planned for the sector before winter, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise again and people complain that they cannot get tested.
In areas subject to local closures, it is understood that nursing homes may be told to suspend visitation in all situations except at the end of life.
And in other areas where community transmission remains a concern, the government is considering restricting visits to one person per resident.
A new ‘head nurse for adult social care’ role will be created
The ministers were criticized for their handling of the pandemic in nursing homes in March and April, for example, when the owner of a nursing home accused the government leadership of being “equivalent to importing death into nursing homes” and “sacrifice the elderly.”
At the height of the crisis, more than 400 nursing home residents died every day with coronavirus, found an analysis from the Press Association.
As part of the government’s new social care action plan, nursing home residents and workers will also receive free Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Another problem that some vendors say took months to solve at the beginning of the pandemic.
And a new head nurse for the adult social care function will be created to provide “clinical and professional leadership,” but recruitment will not begin until October.
Staff and residents will receive free PPE
Local authorities and the Quality of Care Commission will be asked to take “strong action” in cases where providers do not adequately restrict the movement of staff.
The Department of Health and Social Care said this could include restricting the operation of a service and issuing warning notices.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock explained that measures are being taken as the UK enters “a critical phase in our fight against coronavirus with winter on the horizon.”
He said: “Our priority for the next six months is to make sure we protect the most vulnerable in care and our incredibly hardworking workforce by limiting the spread of the virus and preventing a second surge.”
“This winter plan gives providers the certainty they need when it comes to PPE and provides additional support to help nursing homes limit the movement of personnel, stop the spread of the coronavirus and save lives.
“We will be monitoring the implementation of this carefully and we will be swift in our actions to protect residents and colleagues across the country.”
The movements of the residence staff will be restricted
Liz Kendall, Labor’s shadow social care minister, said the party had repeatedly called for more social care assistance and for a new care director to be appointed to provide leadership that was “clearly lacking” when the coronavirus broke out.
He welcomed the new funding but cautioned that the “real test” remains that the government must test all care staff weekly.
That was promised in July, Kendall said, but has yet to be delivered.
“Ensuring that families can visit their loved ones is also critical, as without this nursing home residents can end up disappearing quickly,” he added.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson in July I affirm that “Too many nursing homes didn’t really follow procedures the way they could have.”
Caregivers reacted angrily, as the guidance issued until March 13 told them: “It remains highly unlikely that people receiving care in a nursing home or in the community will become infected.”
