There has been a call for the reinstatement of day care and respite provisions for carers as free lateral flow testing ends.
Strangford Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong has said that carers need a better understanding of how day care and respite services will operate for parents as many will still require a negative lateral flow test before someone can attend them.
She has also issued a call for all respite and day care services to return to their pre-pandemic levels, saying that the first provisions to close should not be the last to reopen.
Read more: Covid-19 testing Northern Ireland: Changes as those with symptoms no longer advised to test
From Monday, lateral flow tests will no longer be freely available unless you are health service worker or receiving new Covid treatments.
Ms Armstrong said: “It is welcome that the rate of Covid in Northern Ireland has fallen since its peak earlier in the summer. However, clarification is needed from health Trusts on how the move to end free lateral flow tests will affect respite and day care provision,” said Ms Armstrong, the Chair of the Assembly All-Party Group (APG) on learning disability.
“Proactive action needs to be taken to ensure respite services and day care services are reinstated to pre-pandemic levels. It is unfair these were the first services removed and are the last to be reinstated as we move out of this crisis.
“It is having a negative impact on both the mental and physical health of both carers and the people they look after. The APG on learning disability is seeking clarification from the Department of Health to seek assurances these services will be resumed as soon as possible.”
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