Policy Updates 20th September 2021
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 20th September 2021.
Headline News
Care homes may have to close as new vaccine rules come into force
Care homes may have to close because of a lack of staff as new rules come into force making vaccines for workers mandatory. Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said care homes may be forced to shut because of staff shortages as the deadline for care workers to get vaccinated looms on Thursday.
Somerset Live
GPs asked to administer Covid boosters in care homes by 1 November, ideally with flu
GPs have been told to prioritise offering Covid boosters to care home patients and staff by 1 November and are encouraged to co-administer the vaccine with the flu jab.
Pulse Today
Fresh concerns over mental health and wellbeing of care workforce
More than two thirds of care workers say their mental health has declined and they have not been offered professional support during the pandemic, a new survey from Unison has revealed.
Nursing Times
Social care leaders hit out at 11th hour vaccine exemption allowing care home staff to ‘self-certify’
Care home staff in England will be able to temporarily “self-certify” that they are medically exempt from getting a coronavirus vaccine, it has emerged. Pregnant care home workers will also be able to apply for a “time-limited exemption” from the Government’s mandatory vaccination policy.
Care Appointments
Winter plan: ‘Highly likely’ Covid-19 jabs will be mandatory for nurses
It is “highly likely” that patient-facing NHS and social care staff will be required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the health secretary, the strongest indication yet that it will become law.
Nursing Times
Care workers able to opt-out of Covid vaccine by saying they are medically exempt
On the eve of the deadline for carers to get their first jab, the Department of Health has issued guidance that carers can self-certify that they have a medical exemption which gets them out of it.
ITV News
Goverment Stakeholder Updates
Temporary medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes – Correspondence
A letter from the Director of Adult Social Care Delivery to local authorities, directors of adult social services, care home providers, care home managers and agencies.
GOV.UK