Thousands of people in the North East could face paying around £70 a month to safely visit loved ones living with dementia in care homes following a controversial decision to scrap free lateral flow tests from April 1.
The announcement, included in the Government’s ‘Living With Covid-19’ plan, has been labelled a potentially ‘deadly mistake’ by Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity.
The charity is so concerned that its Chief Executive, Kate Lee, has written to Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid urging an immediate rethink on the changes.
Go here for the latest NHS news and breaking North East public health news
Danielle Cooper, Area Manager for Alzheimer’s Society in the North East, said: “Free lateral flow tests are a crucial part of protecting people living with dementia in care homes, and it is essential their loved ones have free access to them so they can visit safely.
“A lack of testing when people were shockingly discharged into care homes at the start of the pandemic resulted in tens of thousands of residents catching the virus and by not offering free tests to visitors the Government is in danger of repeating the same, deadly mistake.”
Boots has announced it will be selling packs of five lateral flow tests for £12 from early March while Superdrug has reportedly announced plans to undercut this price at £1.99 for individual kits.
At these prices, it would mean that someone visiting loved ones daily in care homes would have to pay out between £60 and £73 a month the lateral flow tests.
It’s estimated that at least 70% of care home residents have dementia and their families, already impacted by the soaring cost of living, now face having to shell out even more money to ensure the safety of their loved ones or risk passing on coronavirus.
One of the people affected is Anne McGuire from Kenton Bar Estate, Newcastle, whose husband John, 67, has dementia.
Anne, 67, said: "The thought of having to pay for lateral flow kits is just another financial worry among many.
"Life is tough enough as it is, what with all the other household bills going up so much."
Anne visits her husband of 48 years around five times a week in his Newcastle care home. To carry on at that rate would mean paying out £40 to £50 a month.
"Things are tight as it is. However if it's a case of going without food or heating to see John so be it. I would give up anything so I can see John."
Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 900,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, with an estimated 39,080 living in the North East.
Those with the condition were the worst hit by the pandemic, with more than 30,000 losing their lives to the virus.
Danielle Cooper said: “The scaling back of free community testing will put family members and carers, desperate to keep their loved ones safe, out of pocket at a time when the cost of living is already rising.
“Ending the need for people to self-isolate after a positive test will also leave many feeling anxious about catching coronavirus as they try to get on with their lives.
“Social isolation has already wrought untold devastation on people affected by dementia and the Government must now ensure that its Living with Covid-19 plan works for everyone, not just those less vulnerable to coronavirus.”
Alzheimer’s Society is calling for care home visiting guidelines to be as clear as possible, along with rules on self-isolation and access to PPE for health and care staff.
The charity wants free lateral flow testing for everyone living with dementia and their carers, and to see the over-75 booster drive prioritise care homes and those receiving care in their own homes.
Anne added: "I 100% agree that they should be given free to care home visitors. Hopefully the government will listen."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said there will be some limited ongoing free testing and the Government will set out further details on which groups will be eligible.
There will also be free symptomatic testing which will remain available to social care staff.
“Throughout the pandemic response we have done everything we can to protect people receiving care and staff and it is vital this continues," said the spokesperson.
“While the vast majority of people cared for in care homes and at home are vaccinated, the risk of transmission and hospitalisation from Covid-19 remain higher than in the general population so the current protections will remain.
“We continue to review all our COVID-19 measures for adult social care in line with the latest scientific advice, and will provide further details of any changes in due course.”
* To join Alzheimer’s Society’s campaign to ensure people affected by dementia are supported and protected in the aftermath and recovery of the coronavirus pandemic visit alzheimers.org.uk/campaign
