Crippling care home isolation rules are eased

Crippling isolation rules which made it impossible for hospitals to discharge thousands of patients into social care were eased last night.

Ministers bowed to pressure to relax ‘outdated’ rules stating that care homes should not admit any new residents for 28 days after a single Covid case. 

Homes will now have to close for only 14 days after an outbreak – defined as two or more cases.

Ministers bowed to pressure to relax ‘outdated’ rules stating that care homes should not admit any new residents for 28 days after a single Covid case

It comes as staffing shortages mean hundreds of care homes have closed their doors to new residents because they are unable to provide safe levels of care.

Around 10,000 patients a day who were medically fit to be discharged were stuck in hospitals last week, figures show. 

Many need a place in a care home or a support package from local social care systems to allow them to return home.

But only four in ten patients medically fit to leave hospital are being discharged each day, NHS England data shows.

Meanwhile, some councils are asking back-office staff to help out. North Yorkshire County Council is asking staff in ‘non-critical services’ in highways, planning and other office roles to temporarily carry out tasks such as cooking, cleaning and helping older people to eat. 

Around 10,000 patients a day who were medically fit to be discharged were stuck in hospitals last week, figures show