The Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) announced new guidance for the aged care sector on Wednesday night that while homes should limit unnecessary visits, operators should be allowing families to make end-of-life visits.
“Wanting to be with someone you love at the end of their life is one of the deepest human instincts and it’s a moment that will be with you forever,” he said. “Done right, it can help those left behind to cope and it brings comfort to those who are dying.”
However, the care sector says far more Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) than is currently available would be needed to make good on this promise.
A spokesperson for MHA – one of the country’s largest providers which has had over 200 COVID-19 deaths – said: “This goes back to the problem of there not being sufficient PPE for the staff, never mind families.”
As already discussed here, UK care homes are only allocated 300 masks per week with no other PPE available.
