Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 July 2021
333. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the current rules in respect of permitting residents of nursing homes to go out into the community for recreational and hospitality visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31956/21]
View answerThe Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has recently published updated guidance on visiting in long-term residential care: COVID-19: Normalising Visiting in Long Term Residential Care Facilities (LTRCFs). This guidance will come into effect on 19 July.
The public health advice is to restore visiting to near normal in terms of frequency of visits in those settings with a high level of vaccination of residents as quickly as possible, while also recognising the need to remain cautious as we continue to deal with the evolving risks associated with COVID-19. The guidance will be kept under continuing review as new evidence and data emerges.
The new guidance provides that:
Providers should put in place the necessary measures to progress to more normalised visiting and visiting frequency as quickly as possible in line with public health guidance with no more than two visitors at any one time.
- Routine visiting will no longer need to be scheduled in advance.
- There is no requirement to have a list of nominated visitors.
- The duration of the visit should not be limited.
- Fewer restrictions will apply to residents going on outings or visits outside of the nursing home.
Resident outings and visits to homes of families and friends are important for resident's overall welfare. As noted in the guidance, outings and activities should comply with the public health measures in effect at the time in relation to groups of people meeting.
Where there is a high level of significant vaccine protection in an LTRCF there is no requirement on residents to limit their movement within the LTRCF when they return from an outing or hospital attendance, regardless of the duration of the absence, unless some significant and unanticipated exposure risk happened or there is a specific public health or infection prevention and control recommendation that requires limitation of movement. Where there is not a high level of vaccination in an LTRCF, residents may be required to restrict their movements on return to the LTRCF.
Full details are available on the HPSC website and at www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/infectionpreventionandcontrolguidance/residentialcarefacilities/Normalising%20visiting%20in%20LTRCF.pdf.
