Care home visiting rules explained - what you can expect

From Monday, March 8, residents will be allowed one regular visitor.

For the first time since the pandemic began, that visitor will be able to access the resident's bedroom and hold their hand.

It is part of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown which could see most restrictions in England lifted by June 21.

One Salisbury care home said allowing more meaningful contact between visitors and residents will be an "exciting" step for families that have been separated from loved ones during the pandemic. 

But how will the opening up of care homes actually work?

Strict safety measures, including testing and PPE, have to be adhered to, in order to ensure the virus can't be brought into the home.

What that will mean when visiting your relative or friend might be hard to imagine.

That's why earlier this week, I visited Old Sarum Manor on Rhodes Moorhouse Way to get an insight into what visitors can expect as new rules come into force.

Here's what we found and how it will work from March 8, step by step.

Step 1 - Testing

Rapid lateral flow tests are now used regularly in all care and nursing homes to pick up asymptomatic cases.

At Old Sarum Manor, staff are tested every three days, either before they come into work or on arrival.

Once a week, they take an additional, lab-processed PCR test to confirm they are not infected.

Any visitors to the home, including contractors and family members, are already asked to take a test before entering the premises.

This will become a Government requirement from March 8.

As a visitor myself, I took mine in a small room with its own bathroom round the back of the building.

A member of staff was there to guide me through the process, which was surprisingly quick, and make sure I filled in a form with my name, my test result and the test's serial number.

Step 2 - PPE

Anyone visiting the care home is expected to wear a face mask, even after confirmation of a negative test.

Kate Blackburn, Wiltshire Council's director for public health, has repeatedly stressed that "a negative test result is not a passport to freedom" as people could still test negative during the incubation period and pass the virus onto others.

Wearing PPE, especially indoors, reduces the risk of viral transmission.

Surgical masks for anyone who isn't already wearing one are available from a stand just outside the reception area.

This is also where visitors have their temperature checked and are asked to sanitise their hands before entering the building.

Step 3 - Where visitors can go and what they're allowed to do

Arguably one of the biggest changes coming into force on March 8 for people visiting a loved one will be where they can meet.

During the pandemic, staff at Old Sarum Manor have been able to allow visits in their garden room featuring an intercom control system and a glass partition wall.

Residents and visitors can access it from two different doors either side of the wall so they don't come into contact.

However, from Monday, one nominated visitor will be able to access the resident's bedroom.

They can stay for as long as they like and make as many visits as they want.

Although they are not expected to hug or kiss their relatives, they can hold their hand.

Old Sarum Manor's garden room will continue to play an important role for all other family members or friends who wish to visit a resident but are not allowed into their rooms.

'Perspective is changing'

With rules surrounding care home visits being slowly lifted, staff feel the way the public sees homes after a very tragic year is changing for the better.

"There's a lot of risk assessments, a lot of keeping up to date with the guidance... It's been a learning curve," general manager Claire Lousteau said.

General Manager Claire Lousteau

"This time last year we had absolutely no idea but all those things like testing, cleaning and PPE have become second nature to us now and with the vaccination programme I think people's perspective [of care homes] is changing.

"I think confidence is growing and people do feel safe and that's a credit to all staff who have worked incredibly hard."

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