Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support care homes dealing with covid-19 outbreaks over the winter 2022-23 period.

In the event of a suspected outbreak, the Government’s guidance states that the care home should inform the local health protection team or other relevant partner to provide advice and support on the clinical situation. Testing should be undertaken to prevent further transmission and the guidance offers flexibility on further temporary measures which may be taken to manage the outbreak, subject to a risk assessment. We are working with local partners and the care sector to ensure the guidance can be deployed proportionately during the winter.