MANY families are being denied visits to vulnerable relatives in care homes despite the successful rollout of the coronavirus vaccination programme, the Older Person's Commissioner has said.
Eddie Lynch revealed his office has received multiple calls from distressed carers refused face-to-face contact with a loved one.
He described the failure to allow visits at this point in the pandemic when the majority of care home residents as well as staff are fully vaccinated and regular testing is in place as a "breach of human rights".
The commissioner said the sector is in a "very different place" from a few months ago with Covid outbreaks now at their lowest, and praised facilities which have allowed visits while conplying with strict guidance.
However, Mr Lynch said he believed a "blanket ban" was in place by other providers.
"The denial of such a basic human right is cruel and inhumane," he said.
He added: "I have been working with authorities to try to get care homes to facilitate visits in a limited and safe way, so that families who have been separated for months can meet again.
"Despite the health minister stating clearly that care home visits need to happen where possible, I have become aware in recent weeks of some providers still maintaining blanket bans on visiting or only allowing window visits despite having no Covid-19 outbreak in a home. This is not good enough and needs to change fast."
The Department of Health said £6.52m had been paid to 373 nursing and residential care homes up until last week for staff support and care partner arrangements to facilitate visiting.
"Unfortunately, there remains a number of families who have not as yet been able to successfully set up care partner arrangements for their loved ones," a spokeswoman said.
"As well as trusts, the HSCB and PHA are working with those homes who are finding implementation more challenging - identifying and sharing good practice."
