A disgraceful way that care home residents and staff have been treated. The government claims they took care home safety seriously. No wonder there are doubts about 'opening up'.
Admission and care of residents during COVID-19 incident in a care home
. This guidance is intended for care homes, local health protection teams, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and registered providers of accommodation for people who need personal or nursing care. This includes registered residential care and nursing homes for people with learning disabilities, mental health and/or other disabilities. Admission and Care of Patients during COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home 4 We will also continue to provide domiciliary care providers with the information they need to continue providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Admission of residents The care sector looks after many of the most vulnerable people in our society. In this pandemic, we appreciate that care home providers are first and foremost looking after the people in their care, and doing so while some of their staff are absent due to sickness or isolation requirements. As part of the national effort, the care sector also plays a vital role in accepting patients as they are
discharged from hospital – both because recuperation is better in non-acute settings, and because hospitals need to have enough beds to treat acutely sick patients. Residents may also be
admitted to a care home from a home setting.
Some of these patients may have COVID-19, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic. All of these patients can be safely cared for in a care home if this guidance is followed.
If an individual has no COVID-19 symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 but is no longer showing symptoms and has completed their isolation period, then care should be provided as normal.
The Hospital Discharge Service and staff will clarify with care homes the COVID-19 status of an individual and any COVID-19 symptoms, during the process of transfer from a hospital to the care home. Tests will primarily be given to:
• all patients in critical care for pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or flu like illness
• all other patients requiring admission to hospital for pneumonia, ARDS or flu like illness
• where an outbreak has occurred in a residential or care setting, for example long-term care facility or prisons.
1
Negative tests are not required prior to transfers / admissions into the care home.
Duties and powers under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 still apply during this period. If a person thinks it is more likely than not that the person lacks the relevant mental capacity to make the decisions about their ongoing care and treatment, a capacity assessment should be carried out before a decision about their discharge is made. During the emergency period professionals may want to consider a proportionate approach to such assessments to enable timely discharge. The Department of Health and Social Care will shortly be issuing guidance on the use of the MCA and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards during this
