Fears Covid surge will force care homes to impose harsh visiting restrictions this winter
A surge in Covid cases over winter could lead to harsh visiting restrictions being reimposed in care homes and hospitals, MPs and campaigners have warned.
Families are still facing a “postcode lottery” of Covid restrictions in care homes, with visiting times restricted and personal protective equipment (PPE) obligatory.
However MPs are worried that some will reimpose even harsher measures if Covid cases rise this winter.
Daily global Covid infections are projected to rise slowly to around 18.7 million by February, up from the current 16.7 million average daily cases this October.
MPs are calling for the government to enact legislation that would enshrine the right for an essential care giver to be present with their loved ones in care settings.
Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper said that one of her constituents, Lynn, was not allowed into a hospital A&E ward to see her husband Andy when his dementia deteriorated over Christmas last year.
The hospital refused to let Andy have any visitors for two weeks until Ms Cooper intervened. When she was allowed in, Lynn was distraught to find that Andy had lost a significant amount of weight in the weeks he was isolated.
Ms Cooper continued: “We have come a long way since last Christmas, and since the start of the pandemic, but as winter approaches the NHS and care settings are once again expected to struggle with a surge in Covid cases.
“It is not inconceivable that what happened to Lynn and Andy could happen again to them and to many others.”
Source: Independent, 30 October 2022
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