North Yorkshire care boss welcomes unlimited visitors being allowed
It's as restrictions on care homes are being lifted from Monday
A North Yorkshire care home owner is welcoming today's news that residents will be allowed to see unlimited numbers of visitors from Monday.
It is as a maximum of three is allowed at the moment.
Mike Padgham is chair of the county's Independent Care Group and also owns homes in Scarborough.
He said: "We're very pleased that at last we're getting back to some normality because it's been tough on residents and their relatives in care homes, so we welcome the fact that there's an unlimited number. All I would add to that is that we want the public to be a little bit patient as we get back up to speed because the requests and demand are going to be quite enormous so we're going to have to take it step-by-step.
"Whilst society is going to open up a bit more, face masks will, for the foreseeable future, still be there in care homes to protect the vulnerable people in those homes so yes, it's a nuisance but we want to keep people safe. I think in due course that will be reduced but at the moment testing and face coverings but unlimited visitors has to be good news.
"It's quite narrow really because if you have a big family not everyone can come and they have to be the same people each time, so this is why being opened up to anyone is going to be very, very welcome. It's been tough on them for the last two years but we're going back to some normality hopefully now and it's a good news story.
It has also been announced that self-isolation after testing positive will be shortened to a maximum of 10 days.
Mike added: "It's an improvement but still 10 days is a long time if you have to isolate so I'm hoping that it'll be reduced further in due course but yes, we're going in the right direction. Whilst the rest of society is much freer, care homes has still got a way to go yet but we have to be safety first but we welcome both moves basically.
"It's a balancing act. Safety first is important of course but I think there are risks in not allowing people to have contact earlier, so you have to take a balanced risk. Care homes and others we get caught with the advice sometimes in the middle but I do think a reduction is a step forward."