Most hospital patients and care home residents in England will now no longer be required to undertake regular asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 unless they develop symptoms. This is in accordance with updated guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) published on 24 August 2022 (“The Guidance”). The Guidance takes effect from 31 …
NHS and care homes in England to pause routine COVID-19 testing Read More »
On 4 July 2022 the UK Health Security Agency’s chief executive, Dame Jenny, warned that the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid is expected to rise further. This is following figures released which showed UK Covid cases rising by 32% in a single week. The latest rise of around 500,000 cases of …
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (“JCVI”) has advised at-risk groups that they should receive a booster Covid vaccine dose in autumn 2022. In addition, JVCI has said the jabs should be offered to over-65s, health and care staff, and clinically vulnerable adults aged 16-64. The purpose of this booster is to crucially top …
Vulnerable adults set to receive booster vaccinations in autumn Read More »
NHS bosses in England have asked hospitals to offer staff more overtime and have asked retired employees to return to work, with the purpose of tackling NHS waiting lists. A letter sent by NHS England dated 5 May 2022 to Hospitals, explains that the waiting list backlog had grown during the pandemic and would require …
NHS Hospitals to encourage retired staff to return to work to help tackle backlog Read More »
Care Provider Alliance (“CPA”) and UNISON have written to Health Secretary Sajid Javid urging the Government to reinstate the Infection Control Fund (“ICF”). The £1.75 billion fund, which allowed health and social care providers to continue to pay staff full wages while they were off due to COVID-19 isolation, was terminated on 1 April 2022. …
Calls for the Government to Reinstate the Infection Control Fund Read More »
On 14 April 2022, the Government introduced new ‘stepping down’ rules which apply to NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and emergency departments. As part of these rules, in England, there is no longer a requirement for patients to socially distance in waiting rooms. This is demonstrative of the Government’s ‘Living with COVID-19’ approach that they are …
Patients in waiting rooms in England are no longer required to socially distance Read More »
In their email update to ‘providers and professionals in adult social care’ on 14 April 2022, the CQC has reminded providers of the UK Government’s latest infection control and guidance policies (“Updated Guidance”). The Updated Guidance came into effect on 4 April 2022. This provides information regarding COVID-19 testing, Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”), and what …
CQC reminds providers of UK Governments latest infection control and guidance Read More »
As of 1 April 2022 all previous legally binding obligations in relation to COVID-19 have been lifted. Since the Government announced that moving forward the policy would be to “live with COVID-19” there has been a significant reduction of restrictions for the public. However, as part of their approach to “live with COVID-19” extra precautions …
As of 1 April 2022, the Infection Control Fund (“ICF”) ended in England. However, Scotland has decided to extend its own version, the Social Care Staff Support Fund (“SCSSF”), until 30 June 2022. The ICF was a government support programme designed to financially assist providers and social care workers who had to be off work …
The Care Worker’s Charity (“CWC”), The Care Providers Alliance (“CPA”) and The Relatives and Residents Association (“R&RA”) have all combined in their efforts to write to Sajid Javid the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This letter has implored Sajid Javid to review the Government’s decision to withdraw funding for the Infection Control …
Care Bodies urge Government to reconsider decision to withdraw Infection Control Fund 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.
info@ridout-law.com • +44 (0) 207 317 0340
7-10 Chandos Street, W1G 9DQ, London
