Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will bring forward legislative proposals to allow relatives to be designated as unpaid keyworkers to access care homes and help provide care for care home residents in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

On 16 November, we began a trial of testing visitors to care homes. Testing is one way of minimising the risk of visiting a care home. If a visitor has a negative test, is wearing appropriate personal protective equipment, and following other infection control measures then our guidance advises that visitors can to provide personal care and have physical contact with their loved one, such as holding hands.

We want to bring an end to the pain of separation and help care homes bring families and loved ones together. The launch of visitor testing is a crucial step to making that happen. We aim to rollout visitor testing nationwide by Christmas.