The first designated visitors have been able to meet up with their loved ones living in Scottish care homes today.

However, ministers admit that it could be another fortnight or more before all of the nearly 1,000 homes in Scotland is able to accommodate every visitor safely.

The move follows the publication of guidelines last week setting nine safeguards that need to be in place to allow weekly visits by up to two designated visitors.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman says a point has been reached where clinicians and organisations representing care home operators believe safe reopening as possible:

“We are collectively confident that it is the right time to address the other risk to residents in care homes and that is the risk of isolation and loneliness caused by the necessary restrictions that were put in place.”

Ms Freeman said that she realised it might not be possible for every care home to have two designated visitors coming to see every resident by the end of this week because of potential challenges around finding safe places to test visitors and allow them to wait for the results, and also and appropriate place for people to put on and then remove their PPE.

The Health Secretary said there had been a series of productive meetings with Scottish Care, CCPS, which represents third sector organisations, and individual home providers to address their concerns – and she would make sure any care home operator finding it difficult to meet the requirements is supported by their local NHS teams or government officials.

“I certainly expect that, by the middle of March, with our continuous help and support and the support of Scottish Care, that we will get to a position where all our providers, except where they have an outbreak of covid, will be offering this really vital, meaningful contact between family members and their loved ones in care homes.”

At today’s government daily briefing, Ms Freeman cited Barchester Healthcare which had moved from a position of needing all designated visitors to be vaccinated.

A spokesperson for Barchester Healthcare confirmed vaccination will not a precondition of being a designated visitor to someone living in one of their homes:

“Our preference is that they are also vaccinated, if possible, but as many of our relatives have told us they are not able to be vaccinated as yet this is not something we will mandate.

“However, we are lobbying with the Government for designated visitors to be prioritised for a vaccination and will continue to engage with relatives and residents.”

 

 

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