In response to the Covid-19, Boris Johnson noted that the UK would seek to impose restrictions on personal responsibility.
Among the measures that might be scrapped under the new plan is the emergency nursing register and the free testing for nurses. This new plan is a long term prediction of how we can live in years to come.
People may no longer be required to self-assess after a positive test result under the new guidelines, however, it is still uncertain whether nurses will be required to still self-isolate if they contract the virus.
In a plan unveiled on April 1, the prime minister said that staff members in certain vulnerable services would be given guidance on self-isolation. The government also announced that free asymptomatic and universal symptomatic testing would be abolished from April 1.
Furthermore, for a small number of at-risk groups and social care staff, free symptomatic testing would continue. For those working in the NHS, free testing will end. In addition, NHS staff are currently required to test at home twice a week as a precautionary measure.
Free personal protective equipment (PPE) will be available to both NHS and social care staff up until the end of March 2023. This may change if there are changes to the infection prevention and control guidance on the use of PPE for Covid-19.
As of March 24th, the temporary provision under the Coronavirus Act 2020 that allowed for the emergency registration of nurses and other health professionals will expire.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council can no longer be able to accept new registrants to its temporary register from that date due to the latest changes.
Former nurses and some internationally qualified nurses were able to practise in the UK during the pandemic thanks to the emergency register. This scheme helped employers to fill gaps in their workforce.
There were over 13,000 people on the temporary register in August 2021. According to Nursing Times, soon there will be a response to the new changes, with the NMC releasing a statement about its plans for closing the temporary register.
More than 300 senior leaders in the NHS were part of a recent poll carried out by the NHS Confederation, finding that 79% disagreed with stopping free access to Covid-19 tests for the public. In addition, 94% felt the same about NHS staff and other key workers.
However, there were some disagreements, with 75% against the proposal to change the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive result to being advisory only.
What About Visiting Nursing Home Residents?
This month, restrictions in nursing homes have been significantly relaxed. Even if residents are infected, family members can now visit. The visiter will be a “nominated support person” and will be allowed access to a resident, only if they are made aware of the risks involved.
For residents, social and recreational activities should not be limited, however, the only exception is for infectious residents. In nursing homes, when outbreaks occur, the suspension of new admissions should only last for a maximum of ten days after the last case is detected.
Under the new guidelines, nursing homes now may not need to wait for the outbreak to be declared over before it can reopen to new admissions. Also, as long as they are vaccinated, residents who get the virus will only have to isolate for 10 days.
The aim is that nursing homes will be encouraged to maintain social and recreational activities within the nursing home for residents with the new measures. A focus will be on giving residents more opportunities for social connectedness.
All nursing home stakeholders must continue to be vigilant and apply the required infection prevention and control precautions. For new residents, social activities could still be restricted under infection control measures, however, restrictions should be limited to seven days.
Now, residents are required to stay in their rooms all of the time. They can go outside where there is very little risk to anyone or go for a walk down the hall at a quiet time if they’d like.
Even if a home is experiencing an outbreak, residents that are admitted to hospitals from nursing homes may be discharged back to the same nursing home. But, this is dependent on the home taking measures to protect the resident from infection and having the capacity to care for them.
There is unrestricted access to residents for most of the day for nominated support persons adding further support for the wellbeing and mental health of residents.
Are Covid Restrictions Still Needed In Nursing Homes?
In nursing homes, Covid restrictions are still required with care home residents accounting for roughly 62% of deaths in Ireland in comparison to the international average of 25%.
The virus is still circulating, even impacting elderly people who have had their booster jabs. Though people may not be getting as sick, concerns still exist. If the virus gets into a setting, there can be devastating consequences for residents and critically, residents then have to isolate.
At the moment, there is no requirement for wearing a face mask on public transport or in shops, however, people are still advised to wear them in healthcare settings. This includes nursing homes, although it is not mandated by legislation.
When entering a care home, masks should be worn, especially when they’re sitting with a resident. Then, when leaving the building, masks may be taken off, protecting residents and staff.
New Nursing Rules For Covid Isolation
Any members of staff that test positive for Covid should not attend work, as well as those with symptoms consistent with the virus. There are plans by the UK government to begin living with the virus.
There has been an announcement to end all pandemic restrictions for the general population with new guidance for health and care workers issued by the UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
What are the new changes?
All health or social care workers that experience high temperatures, new continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell should not attend work. In addition, they should undertake a confirmatory PCR test.
Also, any member of staff that tests positive for the virus via an asymptomatic Lateral Flow test or confirmatory PCR test should remain away from work.
A change to the policy is the removal of the confirmatory PCR test following a positive lateral flow. Now, contact with someone who has the virus while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) will not be considered as a contact.
Health and social care staff who are contacts will be able to continue in their usual role, only on the condition that the staff member has a negative PCR test, no symptoms and undertakes daily lateral flowing testing for ten days.
These new rules apply to all staff who have received one or more doses of the vaccine.
Advice For Checking Local Policies
It isn’t clear whether health and care workers will be instructed to continue undertaking asymptomatic twice-weekly testing or how this will be paid for. The advice returning to work following a positive test is that staff with COVID-19 should not attend work until they have had 2 consecutive negative LFD test results which are 5 days after the day their symptoms.
What Is The Omicron Variant?
The Omicron variant of coronavirus is slightly different to previous variants Delta and Alpha. With its own symptoms, this variant is highly transmissible, spreading faster than any other variant seen in the UK. It was first identified in South Africa and people have been suffering from milder symptoms.
At the moment, estimates show that there are now more than 10,000 more transmissible cases.
The Omicron Variant And Care Homes In The UK
So how does the Omicron variant have an impact on care homes? Well, with new guidelines issued, there will be changes to visiting times, additional support for booster jabs and an extra £300m issued by the UK government. Here are some of the latest updates.
Visiting Times
In the UK there are new guidelines to follow. In England, care home residents are only allowed three visitors as well as only one essential caregiver to be present. Of course, this will create dilemmas for families, especially around Christmas time.
When it comes to the previous care home visitor guidance, no restrictions were placed on the number of visitors, however, before turning up, arrangements must be made as well as receiving a negative lateral flow test on the day.
Increased Booster Rates
Also, there has been the deployment of vaccination teams to provide booster jabs to residents and staff. This is to offer the guarantee that all housebound people, their caregivers, care home residents and staff, are offered a booster jab.
According to the DHSC, more than 70% of older adult care home residents have already received their booster jab. There is also a focus on care home staff and visitors to get the jab to protect those who are most vulnerable.