Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take to support care homes that risk losing losing staff due to the proposed mandatory covid-19 vaccination guidelines.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We have ensured social care workers are prioritised for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. In addition to repeat care home visits by vaccination teams, we have introduced priority access at vaccination centres for social care workers and unpaid carers which is available now at walk-in sites. The regulations on vaccination requirements in care homes included a 16-week grace period to provide time for staff to be vaccinated and also for care homes to manage staff transition, if necessary. We also made guidance available through partners to support local authorities with capacity and workforce planning.
We have put in place a range of measures to support local authorities and care providers address workforce capacity pressures. On 10 December 2021 we announced £300 million to support local authorities and care providers to recruit and retain staff through winter. This is in addition to the existing £162.5 million Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund. We have also launched a new phase of our national recruitment campaign which will run until March 2022.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing the isolation period for residents in care homes in line with the general population.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
The requirement for a 14 day self-isolation period has been in place due to evidence of increased periods of incubation and viral shedding in care home residents. However, following the booster vaccination campaign, the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies’ Social Care Working Group has been commissioned to provide updated clinical advice. This will inform any changes to guidance in line with the removal of ‘Plan B’ measures.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of changing care home visiting guidance to outbreak management only and to encourage the continuation of testing.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We will announce next steps on visiting arrangements following the removal of ‘Plan B’ measures shortly.
Due to high community prevalence of COVID-19 and the clinical vulnerability of most people living in care homes, it is necessary to keep some additional measures in place in care homes to keep residents, visitors and staff safe.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when care home restrictions will be lifted.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We are currently reviewing our guidance and we will set out the next steps shortly.
We regularly review and update guidance to ensure it is necessary and proportionate, considering clinical advice and other priorities such as maintaining safe staffing levels and residents having meaningful contact with loved ones. The restrictions currently in place to keep care home residents safe will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Ben Bradley (Conservative - Mansfield)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy reduce covid-19 restrictions for care homes.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
We regularly review and update guidance to ensure it is necessary and proportionate, considering clinical advice and priorities such as maintaining safe staffing levels and ensuring residents have meaningful contact with loved ones. The restrictions are currently in place to keep care home residents safe and will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.
We are currently reviewing our guidance in light of the lifting ‘Plan B’ measures and expect to publish updated advice shortly.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of care homes have been visited to deliver booster doses of covid-19 vaccinations on more than one occasion.
Answered by Maggie Throup
As of 30 December 2021, 5,893 or 39% of care homes, including both older adult and non-older adult care homes, had been visited on more than one occasion. As of 25 December 2021, 25 care homes or 0.16% care homes were yet to be visited. As of 7 January 2022, seven or 0.05% of care homes were yet to be visited. Delays in visiting the remaining care homes were due to outbreaks, therefore visits could not take place until the 28-day isolation period was over.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of care homes were yet to be visited to deliver booster doses of covid-19 vaccinations as of (a) 25 December 2021 and (b) 7 January 2022.
Answered by Maggie Throup
As of 30 December 2021, 5,893 or 39% of care homes, including both older adult and non-older adult care homes, had been visited on more than one occasion. As of 25 December 2021, 25 care homes or 0.16% care homes were yet to be visited. As of 7 January 2022, seven or 0.05% of care homes were yet to be visited. Delays in visiting the remaining care homes were due to outbreaks, therefore visits could not take place until the 28-day isolation period was over.
Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people need to test positive to define a covid-19 outbreak in a residential care setting.
Answered by Maggie Throup
Current guidance defines an outbreak as two or more confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed by an appropriate test, or clinically suspected cases among people in the same specific setting with the onset of symptoms within 14 days. If there is a single test-confirmed case, this would initiate further investigation and risk assessment. An outbreak would be declared if the investigation ascertained a second COVID-19 case, either test-confirmed or clinically suspected.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when all remaining eligible care home residents will have been invited to receive their covid-19 booster vaccine.
Answered by Maggie Throup
All care home residents are eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination at three months since their second dose was administered. Booster doses have been delivered at over 99% of older adult care homes in England. Roving vaccination teams will continue to visit care homes to deliver additional doses required. Where there are care homes currently experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, booked visits by vaccination teams will take place when it is safe for all to do so.
Asked by: Elliot Colburn (Conservative - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase take-up of the covid-19 booster vaccine amongst care home residents.
Answered by Maggie Throup
All care home residents are eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccination at three months since their second dose was administered. Booster doses have been delivered at over 99% of older adult care homes in England. Roving vaccination teams will continue to visit care homes to deliver additional doses required. Where there are care homes currently experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, booked visits by vaccination teams will take place when it is safe for all to do so.