Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to bring forward guidance for care homes allowing visitors to care home residents with dementia during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Department’s COVID-19 Adult Social Care Action Plan outlines the importance of restricting visitors to care homes at this time to reduce the risk of infection for care home residents and staff. The Adult Social Care Action Plan is available to view at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-adult-social-care-action-plan

It is recognised that this restriction in visitors may cause anxiety for both residents and their relatives. Existing guidance encourages that alternatives to in-person visiting are explored such as telephones or video calling. It is important that relatives can visit their loved one if they are dying, or if the relatives’ bereavement is likely to be worse, with a higher risk of psychological and physical morbidity. The Adult Social Care Action Plan acknowledges this exception.