Dear All,

We would like to offer an update on the current coronavirus situation.

Our care teams continue to work extremely hard in challenging conditions to ensure that your loved ones remain as safe as possible and minimise the impact of the coronavirus. In spite of these efforts, we are saddened that in some cases, some of our homes have been impacted. We would like to firstly offer our deepest condolences to the next of kin who have lost loved ones during the pandemic.

Information for new admissions

We continue welcoming new residents into our homes. In order to ensure the safety of all our existing and incoming residents, we have strict infection control protocols in place, to ensure a seamless and safe journey from assessment through to admission. It is important for our homes to continue to admit people whose care needs can no longer be met at home or in hospital. We would like to reassure you that in advertising for and accepting new admissions, we are only doing so where it is safe to do so and are ensuring that every precaution is in place to protect our existing and future residents.

We have a number of infection control protocols to ensure we reduce the risk of new infections, including:

• Requiring a COVID-19 clear test as well as a full health history from any new resident that is discharged from hospital or another care setting. Where tests are not available, we will put additional measures in place to reduce possible risks.

• Caring for any new resident in isolation for 14 days, with the full use of PPE and twice daily health check.

Testing

We are actively taking part in mandatory testing and would like to reassure you that our homes are receiving ample ‘whole home’ testing kits along with the new Lateral Flow Testing Kits.

Family visitations:

As of 12th April the government is allowing every care home resident to nominate up to 2 named visitors who will be able to enter the care home for regular visits and will be able to visit together or separately as preferred. In addition to their 2 named visitors, residents with higher care needs can also choose to nominate an essential care giver. Our care homes can also continue to offer visits to other friends or family members through arrangements such as outdoor visiting, rooms with substantial screens, visiting pods, or from behind windows, which we have in place across our homes.

Please note that we will require all visitors to follow some important steps to reduce the risk of infection to the person they are visiting and to others in the care home:

1. Take a rapid lateral flow test

The named visitors will need to take a rapid (lateral flow) test every time they visit. If the result is negative, the visit can go ahead.

The visitors will do the test when they arrive at the care home.

The care home will provide the test.

2. Wear PPE

Visitors will need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for the duration of these visits:

• disposable gloves

• a disposable plastic apron

• a fluid-repellent (type IIR) surgical mask

The care home will provide these.

For a full summary of all the rules please visit:

Please note that specific details of how your visit will be managed will be provided by the respective home manager. All visits are at the home manager’s discretion and based on local area guidelines, infection rates and recent test results.

Other visitors to our homes

It is important to note that these restrictions on visitations to our homes also applies to all non-essential visitors. Please be assured that all visitors will be briefed on the strictest infection control procedures and will be subject to many of the same control measures outlined for next-of-kin.

Thank you

We would like to take this opportunity to, once again, thank all of our colleagues who have been the pillars of support for our homes throughout this period. Many of you have stayed positive during this difficult time and have continued to provide excellent quality care to our residents, whilst mourning the ones we have lost.

We would also like to thank next-of-kin and the local communities, who have supported, both emotionally and through thoughtful cards, letters and donations. We are so grateful for the continued support and understanding. Of course, as a provider, we are delighted that the Vaccine roll out has commenced for both our staff and our residents. We continually receive information at local level as to when and who gets vaccinated. Our homes will of course keep you informed of this progress locally and update you as the roll out continues and we remain very hopeful that the vaccine remains the way out of this situation we find ourselves in.

If you have any further questions, we would advise contacting the care home of your loved one in the first instance. Alternatively, you may drop an enquiry to enquiries@minstercaregroup.co.uk

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.