Northern Ireland

Further easing of restrictions on care home visits described as `small step towards normality'

Eddie Lynch, the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, welcomed yesterday's further easing of care home visit restrictions. Picture by Hugh Russell
Eddie Lynch, the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, welcomed yesterday's further easing of care home visit restrictions. Picture by Hugh Russell Eddie Lynch, the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, welcomed yesterday's further easing of care home visit restrictions. Picture by Hugh Russell

THE further easing of restrictions on care home visits was yesterday described as a "small step towards normality, but a significant one."

The new arrangements, which are set out in the Department of Health's `Visiting With Care - A Pathway' document, means up to four people from no more than two households can now visit, with a maximum of four such visits per week allowed.

However, the easing of restrictions may not fully apply if the care home has an active Covid-19 outbreak.

Face-to-face visiting at care homes was stopped last April to protect residents.

A four-stage plan for easing restrictions got under way in May.

Since then, residents have been able to have two visitors in their room up to three times a week, and go out on trips.

Eddie Lynch, the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, welcomed the move.

"I have heard first-hand from those living in care homes just how difficult the restrictions around visiting have been so this is very welcome news for many residents and their loved ones.

"Moving to the next phase in the pathway document is a small step towards normality, but a significant one for care home residents."

Mr Lynch added: "I would echo the Health Minister’s warning and reminder that Covid 19 is still prevalent in society and again would urge everyone to continue to practice good personal hygiene and to avail of the vaccine and the booster vaccine where eligible."