Dec 2021
Family and Friends letter: 17 December
Letter from OSJCT Operations Director Mike Stredder about visiting.
Dear family member, loved ones and friends,
The new Government guidance for care home visiting was updated late on 14 December, and came into effect on 15 December.
As COVID-19 cases in the community rise steeply, our top priority is the care and safety of your loved ones living in our care homes. Please be reassured that after 20 months dealing with the threat of the virus, our care homes are well practiced in following our protocols, infection prevention control measures, use of PPE and testing procedures.
We have summarised key changes to visiting guidance below:
Visits in care homes
Each resident can have three nominated visitors and one essential care giver (ECG), plus visits from pre-school children. These four visitors cannot be changed for the time being.
ECGs must now take three LFD tests and one PCR test each week and undergo rapid response testing in the event that the home has an outbreak. This is the same testing regime as care home employees. ECGs should follow the testing instructions, and all other details explained in the ECG visitors’ agreement.
Residents on an end-of-life pathway can have extra visitors subject to negative LFD testing and following infection control measures as guided.
Close contacts with COVID-19
Any nominated visitors or ECGs – even if double vaccinated – who are identified as a close contact of someone who is positive for COVID-19 (of any strain) is strongly advised not to visit a care home for 10 days and to take a daily LFD test in those 10 days following notification of being a contact.
In exceptional circumstances, for example those on an end-of-life care pathway, visits can take place during those 10 days following a negative PCR test and negative LFD test on the day of the visit, before it takes place. Full support will be given to ensure these visits can take place.
Visits out of the care home
Residents who are planning to go out of their care home for a visit should continue to avoid high-risk places, such as crowded venues or public transport.
Residents who have had at least two COVID-19 vaccinations, or are medically exempt, do not have to self-isolate on return from their visit, but must have daily LFD tests for 10 days on their return, and a PCR test on day five.
Residents who have not had their vaccines and are not medically exempt must receive in-room care for 14 days on their return. This also applies for any residents who have been to a high-risk location (determined by an individual risk assessment) or visited a hospital in an emergency.
Residents who go to a planned hospital visit must remain in their room until they receive a negative PCR test, before re-joining the care home community and completing 10 days of daily testing.
Covid-19 booster vaccination
We are asking all family and friend visitors to OSJCT care homes to have their COVID-19 booster vaccinations as soon as they are eligible, as an important measure to reduce the spread and severity of the virus to residents and employees. As the effectiveness of vaccinations reduces over time, a recent vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your family and those living and working in care homes.
Our homes will ask ECGs to share their vaccination status, this is a voluntary measure, and refusal to do so will not impact on visits. However, sharing this information will be very helpful for our teams.
All care home employees are double vaccinated and are also asked to get their COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations at the earliest opportunity.
We thank you for your patience with our care teams, as we implement these changes, and manage visiting over the festive period.
With best wishes
Mike Stredder
Operations Director