well visits to loved ones and care homes
in england will be possible by christmas
according to ministers
families and campaigners have been
increasingly critical of the negative
impact
that the ban on visits has had on care
home residents especially those with
dementia a pilot scheme involving 20
homes in hampshire devon and cornwall
which will provide regular testing got
underway today our social affairs
correspondent
alison holt has more details
this was mid-march before lockdown the
last time
67 year old bob such and his wife chris
were able to hug
he has alzheimer's and had just moved
into a care home
see you so much
yeah since then most of their contacts
been like this
deeply distressing for them both the
testing pilot offers hope for the future
but it still feels a long way off it's
been
absolutely cruel to see him scratching
at the window
him calling coming coming and he doesn't
understand he's in the latter stages of
dementia
and his well-being and quality of life
have been severely impacted
as has mine their son's a doctor working
on a busy hospital covered ward
he deals with the risks each day and
says it should be possible for families
to have closer contact in care homes
it's a catastrophe for everyone in a
similar scenario including me
because we don't get this time back you
know my my father and lots of other
people will deteriorate during this
period
and we appreciate the difficulties
everybody's facing it's it's not easy
for us all to manage but it must be
managed
and we must find solutions testing is
seen as the key to safe visits
i was tested at a home by care staff
last week who had a machine to provide a
quick result
the pilot scheme will use slightly
different tests but will allow regular
checks for named relatives or friends is
promised this will then roll out
nationally
our goal is to ensure that we have the
testing available
in every care home by christmas
to make sure that people can then and
take a test
and and therefore see their
loved ones safely to comply with cqc
regulations
but with coronavirus cases rising in
hospitals homes like this one in
scarborough are making preparations for
accepting covert positive patients
to ease pressures after so many care
home deaths from the virus nationally
infection control checks are now tougher
we have a coveted positive isolated
floor
dedicated staff dedicated facilities so
they don't come into contact with anyone
else
but as i say these people have to be
looked after somewhere and if we don't
look after them they have to go miles
away from where they perhaps live for
their recuperation
it underlines the complications of the
situation balancing the many pressures
with the needs of residents and
relatives
it's so cruel john it is cruel
but for families like the such is
visitor testing by christmas
is a target that must not be missed
alison holt
bbc news