Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Care Home Residents

Tuesday 17 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Covid-19 poses significant risks to care home residents due to high community transmission rates.
  • The Department is implementing regular testing for staff and residents in care homes.
  • A trial of visitor testing was launched to be rolled out nationally in December.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Amess Con
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP noted the high number of outbreaks in care homes and asked about measures to protect these vulnerable residents.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to protect care home residents during the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Helen Whately

Sadly, covid is cruel to care home residents, and outbreaks are hard to prevent and control, especially when covid rates are high in the surrounding community. As we set out in our winter plan for adult social care, we have a regime of regular testing for staff and residents, we are supplying personal protective equipment to care homes, we have been offering training in infection prevention and control, backed up by Care Quality Commission inspections, and we are providing £1.1 billion to social care specifically to go towards the cost of infection prevention and control.

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Q2 David Amess Con
NHS Social Care
Context

The MP noted the inability of many to visit relatives in care homes since April due to lockdown measures and asked about improving testing and flu vaccination to safely resume these visits.

Question

I know that my hon. Friend has already touched on this subject, but she will be aware that since April, many people have not been able to visit relatives and loved ones in care homes, so will she please tell the House again what is being done to improve testing and to roll out the flu vaccine to ensure that these visits can resume safely after the latest lockdown?

Answer from Helen Whately

My hon. Friend is a great advocate for the care sector—for those who receive care and for the workforce—in Southend West. Yesterday we launched a trial of visitor testing, and we plan to offer this to care homes across the country during December. On his question about flu vaccinations, this year we are carrying out the biggest ever flu vaccination programme. So far, the majority of care home residents have been vaccinated, but there is further to go for care staff, and I urge any careworker who has yet to have their flu jab to ensure that they get it over the next few weeks.

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