Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to provide an update on allowing care home residents to make visits outside as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

We have updated our guidance on care home visiting which came into effect on 17 May, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arrangements-for-visiting-out-of-the-care-home/visits-out-of-care-homes

All care home residents should be supported to leave the home to spend time outdoors or to take part in other activity that is important to their health and wellbeing, subject to individual risk assessments. Our guidance advises care homes that visits out for medical appointments or to take part in other activities necessary to maintain an individual’s health and wellbeing do not need to be followed by a period of isolation.