Care England and Age UK have urged the government to fund free Covid tests for care home visitors beyond 1 April.
The government’s Living With Covid-19 plan will see social care staff continue to receive free asymptomatic testing but not for care home visitors.
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) guidance states visitors must have a negative lateral flow test on the day of a visit.
Care England chief executive Martin Green (pictured) told the Times that removal of free tests for visitors is inappropriate.
“The government is going to remove free testing, but they seem to have forgotten that visitors to care homes will need testing in order to safely visit their relatives,” he said.
“This must be funded by the government because it will be part of its strategy of living with Covid.”
Age UK said it is “unacceptable” that care home visitors will have to pay for a test to visit a care home.
“We’ve learnt throughout the pandemic just how important visits are for people, particularly if they have dementia,” added charity director Caroline Abrahams.
“The idea that, as we move into a period of living with Covid, we put any barriers in the way of old people and their families…is unacceptable.”
A DHSC spokesman told the Times: “We have done everything we can to protect people receiving care and staff, and it is vital this continues. While the majority of people in care homes are vaccinated, the risk of transmission from Covid-19 remains higher than in the general population so the current protections will remain.
“We continue to review our Covid-19 measures in line with the latest advice, and will provide details in due course.”
