Government guidance on Coronavirus changes frequently and it is important to ensure that your policies are up to date and in line with the latest guidance. The guidance should be considered in the context of your own service and your policies should be flexible, reviewed and updated regularly. I have referred to eight examples of …
Policies to introduce in light of Coronavirus guidance Read More »
The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) conducted a ‘Care Homes Market Study’ in 2018 and found that many service users and those acting on their behalf found it difficult to complain to care homes and regarded the complaints processes as unclear, complicated and confusing. As a result of this study, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute …
Since the 1 May when details of the Emergency Support Framework (“ESF”) were first published, the CQC has been hosting a series of webinars to further explain to Providers what the Framework is and how it will work in practice. This article summarises some of the main points raised and aims to give Providers some insight …
CQC’s Emergency Support Framework for Adult Social Care Read More »
This article is written for healthcare providers in their capacity as employers and it will consider employer duties in relation to work related incidents and the reporting of Covid-19 to the Health and Safety Executive (“HSE”). In the context of Covid-19, employers must only make a report under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and …
What healthcare providers need to know about reporting of Covid-19 under RIDDOR Read More »
The DHSC has published new emergency guidance for Care Homes, Hospitals and Supervisory Bodies on the application of The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This article explains the new guidance. The recent guidance aims to assist those caring for adults who lack mental capacity, …
I had to chuckle when I read the CQC Emergency Support Framework. Billed as a supportive process, it would appear to be anything but. It is however not a laughing matter. It appears to be a way to gather information about providers outside of the regulatory framework to use against them at a future date. …
CQC’s Emergency Support Framework – not all it’s cracked up to be Read More »
At the time of writing this article on 30 April 2020, there have already been significant developments in the health and social care sector due to the coronavirus pandemic which has meant that guidance and best practice advice has changed rapidly in this area. In this article, I will focus on the issue of medication …
The issue of medication management during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond Read More »
Social care provisions under Schedule 12 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 came into force on 31 March 2020 when The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No.2) Regulations 2020 became law. Under the 2020 Regulations, Local Authorities have the power to misapply or modify certain duties in the Care Act 2014. The new regime does not apply …
Local Authorities Invoke Care Act 2014 Easements -what does it mean for providers? Read More »
In a statement yesterday by the World Health Organisation Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, it was confirmed that current WHO estimates suggest that up to half of Covid-19 related deaths in Europe have been residents in long-term care facilities. Unfortunately, this is not a huge surprise. A significant proportion of long-term residents of …
The UK government made an Order which partially exempts some independent healthcare providers from existing competition law rules. Chapter 1 of the Competition Act 1998 prohibits organisations from making agreements and certain decisions which have the “object or effect” of restricting competition in the UK. If such agreements are made, under the 1998 Act, they …
The UK formally relaxes competition law rules to facilitate Covid-19 response Read More »
Ridouts is a team of specialist health and social care lawyers, providing dedicated legal advice for care homes, GP practices, children’s homes, dental practices, domiciliary and home care agencies, supported and independent living services and both private and NHS hospitals.
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