Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1467. To ask the Minister for Health when social distanced visits to nursing homes will be resumed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14334/21]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1490. To ask the Minister for Health when persons who have been vaccinated, for example, nurses will be able to visit elderly relatives in nursing homes in which the residents have also been vaccinated (details supplied). [14397/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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1506. To ask the Minister for Health the progress which the HSE is making in its process for considering the scope and application of long-term residential care visiting restrictions in the context of the framework of restrictive measures, the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine and the level of disease in the community as tasked by NPHET; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14489/21]

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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1706. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reopen nursing homes for visits (details supplied); and if a framework is in place for same. [15178/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1367, 1467, 1490, 1506 and 1706 together.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a profound impact across society especially for older people. It is recognised that the necessary public health protective measures, such as the need to reduce social contacts, can have adverse effects on social, psychological and emotional wellbeing. The availability of vaccines brings great hope and will play a critical role in protecting the population, especially those most at risk such as older people, against COVID-19. The advanced stage of the vaccination rollout in nursing homes provides an opportunity for cautious incremental modification in some public health measures, including visiting measures.  

New visitation guidance was published on 12 March and came into effect on 22 March 2021. The new guidance incorporates early learning from the positive impact of the vaccine rollout nationally and internationally and will provide enhanced opportunity for visiting in nursing homes across all levels of the Government’s Plan “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead”. 

While the guidance in place had provided for visiting on critical and compassionate grounds this new guidance now expands the scope of visiting on general compassionate grounds as well as further refining the guidance across levels 1 to 5, which now provides at Levels 3, 4 and 5, subject to risk assessment and no open outbreak, that residents may be facilitated to receive:

- Two visits per week, where 8 out of 10 of every resident and healthcare worker in the nursing home has completed their vaccination schedule.

The guidance re-emphasises specific critical and compassionate circumstances such as end of life on which additional visiting can be facilitated. It further notes that the duration of visiting on critical and compassionate grounds should be as flexible as possible subject to the ability of the nursing home to manage the visiting safely. At all times vigilance on the general infection prevention measures must be maintained. The guidance will be kept under continuing review as new evidence and data emerges.  

It is important to note that nursing home providers are ultimately responsible for the safe care of their residents. Under Regulation 11 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 it is the legal responsibility of each registered provider to make arrangements for a resident to receive visitors, having regard to any risks that may present for the resident or other residents. Public health guidance has been developed in order to assist and support providers in this regard. 

I have written to all nursing home providers, through HIQA’s communication portal, to emphasise the need for all providers to follow the revised guidance on visitation. I have also met with HIQA on this matter to stress the importance of implementation of the guidance. The adoption of a holistic and person-centred approach, noting the key role that visiting, social connections and communication with family and friends has in the context of residents’ overall health and wellbeing must be sustained. I expect every effort to be made to ensure visits are facilitated to the greatest extent possible, in line with the revised guidance and public health advice. Providers are also encouraged to frequently communicate with residents and families on the matter of visiting and to respond to phone calls by family members, in so far as is practicable, given the constraints on staff.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.