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Visiting restrictions in care homes

Posted By Ronxg49

"Visiting restrictions in care homes"

About: Four Seasons Care Home

(as a relative),

My father is in a nursing home in the Belfast Trust area as he needs round the clock care. We have been told that as there is Covid-19 in the home and that only Dad’s primary carer is allowed to visit! This does not make sense! If I take a test, am negative and wear a mask and only spend time in my father’s room, then why can I not visit? The person with covid can be isolated and with effective infection control measures in place, the infection should not spread!

I don't feel it is good for my father’s mental health not to have a visit from me and my siblings!I have spoken with the Care Home Manager and they say they following PHA guidelines! I find it unacceptable and cruel that these restrictions without an evidence base are still being imposed! My father is in his eighties and has limited time left - it is not fair that he cannot see his family! Quality of life is much more important than Quantity! A good quality life includes visits from loved ones!

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Responses

Response from Linda Craig, Regional Lead for Patient Client Experience, Directorate of Nursing & Allied Health Professional, Public Health Agency 2 years ago
Linda Craig
Regional Lead for Patient Client Experience, Directorate of Nursing & Allied Health Professional,
Public Health Agency

My role is to facilitate you to tell your story in the best way possible to make a difference

Submitted on 12/10/2022 at 12:56
Published on Care Opinion at 12:56

picture of Linda Craig

Dear Ronxg49,

Thank you for sharing with us your current experience for you and your father in relation to visiting in his Care Home. There is no doubt this is a distressing time for you both and I have been speaking with key people in PHA in relation to the current guidelines "Visiting with Care - the New Normal (you can access these through the folllowing link: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/Covid-19-visiting-guidance). Within this new guideline Care Homes are required to undertake a period of risk assessment on days 4-day 7 of the Outbreak to establish how to proceed with visiting. I recognise you may be outside of this period now and if the Care Home is deemed low risk, measures should be in place to support you to visit with your father. You can also explore the role of the Care Partner with the Care Home manager. The Care Partner role relates to relatives who provide practical assistance to a resident in a Care Home in support of their health and wellbeing and arrangements should be continued during an outbreak.

The role of the families in supporting residents in Care Homes is essential and I trust this information can support you and your father at this time. I have spoken with the Assistant Director within PHA, Sandra Aitcheson, who supported the development of the new guidelines and she would be happy for you to contact her directly if you still have ongoing concerns. Her email address is Sandra.Aitcheson@hscni.net.

Many thanks

Linda Craig

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