COVID-19: Denial of care home visits could be a breach of human rights says NI Commissioner
The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland has said he is “deeply concerned” that families are still being denied care home visits and that this could be a possible breach of human rights.
Eddie Lynch has expressed concern that many residents are still unable to receive safe face-to-face visits with family members despite the roll out of the vaccination programme, regular testing and other precautions having been put in place.
Mr Lynch said: “I have been working with authorities to try to get care homes to facilitate visits in a limited and safe way, so that families who have been separated for months can meet again.
“My office has received many requests for assistance in recent weeks from families who are desperate to visit their relatives with many describing how they feel their relative is being ‘held hostage’ or being ‘treated like a prisoner’.
“Fortunately, in most cases, we have been able to work with care home providers to get these situations resolved.
“However, I remain concerned that the cases we are dealing with could be the tip of the iceberg and that many other families and residents may still be unfairly denied this important contact.
“I have sought assurances from authorities for many weeks that this issue is being tackled but I remain unconvinced that they know the true scale of this problem or how hard it is hitting residents and families.
“Given that many of these older people will be in the latter stages of their lives, it is critical that where visiting can be done safely, that it is facilitated immediately.”
In a statement today (Wed) the Department of Health said more than half of care homes now had implemented arrangements
It added: “Minister Robin Swann, fully acknowledges the dedication of all independent care home providers and staff who continue to work tirelessly to provide care to residents under challenging circumstances.
“The DOH and PHA are working to support care homes to implement visiting and care partner arrangements, with more than half of homes now having these arrangements in place.
“Trusts have been asked to assure themselves that care homes are operating in accordance with the visiting guidance.”
The DOH added: “Trusts are continuing to work with individual care homes to provide the support they might require moving forward with the facilitation of safely managed and meaningful visiting arrangements and implementation of the care partner concept.
“Unfortunately, there remains a number of families who have not as yet been able to successfully set up care partner arrangements for their loved ones.
“As well as Trusts, the HSCB and PHA are working with those homes who are finding implementation more challenging – identifying and sharing good practice.”
The DOH added that the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, which is responsible for inspecting the availability and quality of Health and Social Care services in NI, will also assess the approach being used when undertaking inspections of care homes.
The department also stated the 373 Nursing and Residential Care Homes have been paid £6.52m in funding for staff support in respect of Care Partners/visiting.
Mr Lynch added: “Despite the Minister stating clearly that care home visits need to happen where possible, I have become aware in recent weeks of some providers still maintaining blanket bans on visiting or only allowing window visits despite having no Covid-19 outbreak in a home.
“This is not good enough and needs to change fast.
“My office has received many requests for assistance in recent weeks from families who are desperate to visit their relatives with many describing how they feel their relative is being ‘held hostage’ or being ‘treated like a prisoner’.
“I recognise and pay tribute to those care home providers who have complied with the guidance and have provided safe and meaningful opportunities for families to have visits with residents.
“This is providing them with much needed contact, and I have heard heart-warming stories of what a difference this is making after such a terrible number of months.”
The Commissioner is asking anyone who is having problems seeing their relatives in care homes, to get in touch with his office and let him know what is happening.
Mr Lynch added: “Although we must remain vigilant, it is clear we are now in a different place than we were a few months ago.
“All care home residents have received both doses of the vaccine and care home outbreaks are at the lowest point since the early days of the pandemic.
“Families tell me they are willing to be tested regularly and many of them have already been vaccinated themselves.
“If there is no Covid-19 outbreak in a home then residents must be re-connected with their loved ones.
“The denial of such a basic human right is cruel and inhumane.”
Downtown Country: