A Government Minister has publicly challenged the suggestion that the decision to make vaccines mandatory for the social care workers penalised any factions of the health and social care sector. Speaking at the Future of Care Conference held on 29 March 2022, the Minister of State for Care and Mental Health, Gillian Keegan said: “It …
Government denies mandatory vaccine ruling penalised social care staff Read More »
On 22 March 2022, the Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) amended its guidance on visiting care homes in England. The guidance titled ‘Guidance on care home visiting’ applies to all residential care homes and replaces previous guidance. The latest guidance reduces the amount of time that care homes need to implement outbreak management …
The DHSC has published updated guidance on visiting care homes Read More »
The COVID-19 vaccination programme has provided a critical defence against severe infection. However, immunity protection levels decline over time. This is why Wales and Scotland has launched a spring booster programme which is currently being rolled out, with England now joining them. This aims to bolster protection levels as many of the oldest recipients received …
Booster Jab launches for over 75’s amidst rising COVID-19 cases Read More »
The ‘UK COVID-19 Inquiry’ (“Inquiry”) is a public Inquiry which has been set up to examine the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the Inquiry is to ensure that the UK can learn from its mistakes in order for it to be better prepared to respond to any future pandemic. As such, …
Government opens consultation on Terms of Reference for the UK COVID-19 Inquiry Read More »
A new COVID-19 variant, BA.2, is on the rise in Scotland and it looks like England and Wales are next. This comes on top of a new government policy to live with COVID-19. Further, this new strain, as with the others, appears to have a greater negative impact on older populations. BA.2 – Current Situation …
Following the announcement of the extension on free Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”) until the end of March 2023, a new website has been launched to ensure continuity of PPE distribution to frontline health and care staff, and other eligible users. The new website builds on user feedback in order to improve user experience. There …
On the 7th February 2022 the Department of Health and Social Care published an update to their guidance on people being discharged from hospital to a care home with a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test. The current requirement is for hospitals to undertake a COVID-19 PCR test on all people discharged into a care home in …
Update: Designated settings scheme for people discharged to a care home Read More »
As of 31 January 2022, restrictions on the number of visitors in care homes were removed and the length of isolation periods in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak were also reduced. This has been commended as “a huge step forward” across the board in the adult social care sector. As the rules stand, the …
In December 2021, CQC postponed its inspections of some services in order to support the acceleration of the vaccination booster programme and prioritise activity to “help create more capacity in adult social care.” CQC has now taking into account the easing of COVID-19 restrictions across the country and has reviewed and updated its regulatory approach, …
Update to CQC’s regulatory approach: changes from 1 February 2022 Read More »
An Employment Tribunal has determined that a Care Assistant, Ms C Allette (“Allette”), was fairly dismissed from a nursing home following her refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Allette had been employed by Scarsdale Grange Nursing Home Limited (“Scarsdale Grange”) for 14 years as a Care Assistant in its 52 bedded nursing home which provides …
Dismissal and Vaccination – Allette v Scarsdale Grange Nursing Home Limited Read More »
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