Care homes in Harrogate give cautious welcome to new guidance on safe family visits during lockdown

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Thursday that limited visits can take place during November in a departure from the sweeping ban which kept residents and loved ones apart during the first wave of the pandemic.

The move has been welcomed by care bosses and council officials in Harrogate, although there are warnings that government suggestions on how visits should work are impractical and could cause frustration at many homes.

New government guidance says homes are being encouraged to provide "safe visiting opportunities" and gave suggestions including floor-to-ceiling screens, designated visitor pods and window visits.

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of care charity Harrogate Neighbours, said while staff are determined to make sure visits happen, some homes may not have the time or money to make the suggested safety measures work.

She said: “The impact of prolonged periods of time in lockdown is having a huge effect on the well-being of so many people, particularly the elderly in care homes.

"We understand that the government has recognised this and is now trying to encourage visits which care providers will be trying very hard to facilitate.

"At Harrogate Neighbours we have been fortunate to have some funds available to build a winter hut/summer house for visits going forward, but this is not necessarily achievable for many care establishments.

"We must find innovative ways to provide safe and achievable ways to allow visitors back into care settings, whilst ensuring the safety of residents, staff and anyone else who comes into contact with a care home."

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Mrs Cawthray also said the regular testing of family visitors would mark a significant step in making sure visits are safe. This is something the government is trailing, as well as a new national programme for weekly testing of professionals who regularly visit.

Susie Harrison, care home manager and chair of Harrogate and District Registered Manager Network, said there had been a mixed reaction in homes to the new government guidance, with "some very pleased and some still a high level of frustration."

She said: "Each care home is so very different in size, layout, nature and needs of residents and each individual resident and family situation is unique so it’s very difficult to put blanket rules in place which everyone will be happy with.

"In my view, I believe managers need to be given the autonomy to be able to risk assess themselves - put in place what they think is in the best interests of their residents- as safely as possible with minimal risk and having the support and back up from local authority and government."

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It comes after care homes across North Yorkshire were told by council officials that all face-to-face visits should stop throughout October as the number of cases of coronavirus among residents and staff quadrupled.

Richard Webb, the county's director of health and adult services, said the steep rise had started with community infections and that a task group was set up to look at how more people could have opportunities to see loved ones in a safe way.

He said: “We know how very important it is to the mental health and emotional wellbeing of residents and their friends and families for visits to care settings to take place, if at all possible, without jeopardising safety.

“We are very pleased that the new national lockdown regulations will enable these visits to continue.”

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter