Jan 2022
Family and Friends letter: 27 January
Letter from Care Quality Director, Robert Black about Covid-19 guidance and infection control measure for care homes.
Dear family member or friend,
We welcome today’s announcement that Government guidance on visiting restrictions for care homes will be further relaxed. However, we are waiting for the detailed guidance to be issued by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) before we review and update our protocols. It is important that we continue to implement the infection control measures to minimise the risk of virus spread and keep your loved ones and all who work, volunteer, and visit in our homes safe.
A central team, the Covid-19 working group, reviews and applies DHSC guidance to our protocols and updates our homes as quickly as possible. We will issue another update next week to outline how the Government changes to visiting, testing and isolation will affect protocols in OSJCT care homes.
You will also be aware that the legal obligation to adhere to Plan B measures in England will end from today. It is timely to remind everyone who enters one of our homes that we must still follow PPE and infection prevention control protocols.
At the current time all employees, residents and visitors must continue to:
- Follow the appropriate testing regimes
- Confirm they are fit and well before entering the care home
- Wear PPE including masks according to our protocols
- Visit in designated visiting rooms, or resident’s bedrooms (where previously agreed to)
Precautions for homes that have an outbreak (two or more cases) of Covid-19, or other winter viruses, still mean that visiting has to be suspended for all but Essential Care Givers (who cannot visit if they or their loved one has Covid-19), and end-of-life visits. The care home will inform you if it goes into outbreak and when this status is lifted.
Our top priority is the care and safety of your loved ones living in our care homes. We thank you for your patience and understanding in supporting our care teams by following these necessary precautions.
With best wishes
Robert Black
Care Quality Director