Relatives, friends and carers will be able to visit their loved ones in care homes from early next month, the Scottish Government has said.
Visits of up to two designated people will be allowed by care home providers, though precautions against spreading the virus will still have to be taken.
However, in light of the improving picture brought about by a falling infection rate and the roll out of the vaccination programme, Ministers have decided that meaningful contact should be be made easier for the wellbeing of residents and their loved ones.
Health Secretary Jeanne Freeman said: “The decisions regarding restrictions on visiting for care home residents have been some of the most difficult we have faced and I have the greatest sympathy for those who have been unable to see relatives and loved ones in person for so long.
“Care home staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support continued contact between residents and their loved ones but these restrictions have been hugely challenging for them, as well as for care home staff and colleagues.
“We deeply regret the deaths and other harm caused by coronavirus in our care homes, but we also recognise the harm caused to the wellbeing of residents and families as a result of an inability to see those they love."
The vaccination programme has helped drive down infections
Full guidelines will be published next week on how visits will be facilitated, though the Scottish Government has already sketched out what can be expected.
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Visitors will need to wear face coverings and any PPE requested by the care home, and are strongly encouraged to take a COVID test on-site.
While visiting may sometimes still be restricted, such as in the event of an outbreak at a care home, the expectation will now be that homes will facilitate regular weekly contact as long as certain safety conditions are met.
Ms Freeman added: “We must remain vigilant about the risks but with multiple layers of protection now in place the balance is in favour of allowing visits. Everyone, including visitors, has a responsibility to ensure that visits take place as safely as possible by continuing to follow safety advice.
“The additional protection in place includes infection prevention and control measures (IPC); personal protective equipment (PPE) in care homes and testing of staff and visiting professionals to care homes, which have developed processes and protocols for safer indoor visiting to take place.
“The guidance we are publishing sets out an expectation that providers will put in place arrangements to enable regular visits to resume from early March and from the discussions I have had with providers, I now expect all care homes to have embraced this guidance by mid-March.”
Annie Innes, the first care home resident vaccinated in Scotland
Cathie Russell of Care Home Relatives Scotland said: “We look forward to working with care home providers, public health and oversight teams to ensure that the new guidance allows residents to enjoy meaningful contact with their closest relatives and friends once more.
"It has been a very difficult year. The deepest ties of love are important and we can never thrive without them.”
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Donald MacAskill, chief executive of Scottish Care, said: “We have now reached a very different place and with a range of COVID-19 protections in place, including vaccination and testing, combined with the use of PPE and IPC, we are at a stage where we can re-introduce safer indoor visiting to Scotland’s care homes.
"This day has been long-awaited and we understand that it will be an emotional time for many."
Gabe Docherty, on behalf of Scottish Directors of Public Health, added: “There’s not been a day when these very human considerations haven’t weighed on the minds of my colleagues and I as we’ve endeavoured to safely negotiate all the challenges COVID has presented.
“It is always been the focus of Directors of Public Health to reinstate visiting as soon as there was evidence that the risks of doing so were greatly reduced. So I warmly welcome and wholeheartedly endorse the approach – and all that it means for care home residents, their families and Care Home staff.”
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