We are pleased that visiting is taking place in the vast majority of our care homes, and that our residents are able to spend valuable time with their relatives, either through contact or non-contact visits, and all adhering to strict infection control protocols to keep us all safe.

The increased availability of rapid Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests and the low levels of COVID-19 transmission in the community mean we can now offer visitors the option to administer their own testing in their own home, prior to a visit in one of our care homes.

LFD tests must be carried out on the day of the visit, close to the visit time, and users must show evidence of a negative test to the care home on their arrival.

Named Visitors, who can hold hands with a loved one during a visit, and Essential Care Givers, must use LFD tests which will be provided by their care home later this month. Test results must be reported to https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result along with the care home’s Unique Organisation Number (which will be supplied to you by your care home). Other visitors undertaking non-contact visits can order and use test kits from https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests.

Evidence of a negative LFD test can be an email, which you receive after reporting your test results online, a confirmatory text from NHS Test and Trace, or a date stamped photograph of the test cartridge using smart phone.

For visitors who are unable to carry out LFD tests or are not confident in using them, please contact your care home in advance of your visit to request a test on arrival, and at least 45 minutes prior to visiting your loved one.

If your test is inconclusive you must carry out another test, and if it is positive you must organise a PCR test at a testing site, or via post and self-isolate in accordance with national guidance.

Please remember:

• All adults and children over the age of 11 must take a LFD test prior to their visit to a care home, ideally within two hours of the visit time
• Visitors must provide evidence of a negative test
• Visitors can pre-arrange for their care home to carry out the test on arrival at the care home
• Home managers retain the discretion as to whether to accept visitors who have self-tested at home and may require an additional care home supervised LFD test.

We appreciate your support and cooperation in undertaking these tests to enable visits in our care homes and minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Thank you all for your patience and your support.