Policy Updates 6th September 2021
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 6th September 2021.
HEADLINE NEWS
A new health and social care tax will be introduced across the UK to pay for reforms to the care sector and NHS funding in England.
Boris Johnson said it would raise £12bn a year, designed to tackle the health backlog caused by the Covid pandemic and to bolster social care.
He accepted the tax broke a manifesto pledge, but said the "global pandemic was in no-one's manifesto".
However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the plan was a "sticking plaster".
Leaders in social care also warned the money was "nowhere near enough" and would not address current problems.
The tax will begin as a 1.25 percentage point rise in National Insurance from April 2022, paid by both employers and workers, and will then become a separate tax on earned income from 2023 - calculated in the same way as National Insurance and appearing on an employee's payslip.
This will be paid by all working adults, including older workers, and the government says it will be "legally ring-fenced" to go only towards health and social care costs.
UPDATED POLICY
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in adult care homes
How to access test kits and step-by-step guides on how to use PCR and rapid lateral flow test kits for regular and outbreak testing of residents, staff and visiting professionals.
27 August 2021: Updated 'Care home COVID-19 testing guidance for regular and outbreak testing of staff and residents' to reflect changes to self-isolation guidance that came into effect on 16 August 2021.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult day care centre workers and service users
Sets out how eligible adult day care centres in England can order, test and register regular PCR and lateral flow tests for all staff and service users.
27 August 2021: Updated the guidance in 'Regular testing for adult day care centres in England' on what constitutes a contact and the appropriate procedures in health and social care settings.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in adult care homes – updated guidance
How to access test kits and step-by-step guides on how to use PCR and rapid lateral flow test kits for regular and outbreak testing of residents, staff and visiting professionals.
Change made:
Updated ‘Care home COVID-19 testing guidance for regular and outbreak testing of staff and residents’ to reflect changes to self-isolation guidance that came into effect on 16 August 2021.
GOV.UK
Safeguarding newsletter for August
Please find attached the August edition of the newsletter for the South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Adults Board and Children’s Partnership.
Please ensure this is shared within your organisation.
Day care centre guidance update
'Regular testing for adult day care centres in England' guidance has been updated on what constitutes a contact and the appropriate procedures in health and social care settings. Full details can be found here - Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult day care centre workers and service users - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Getting vaccinated
The Vaccination Programme continues and we await further information regarding the Phase 3 booster programme. First and second dose vaccinations continue to be available and details of all vaccination clinics including walk-in options are available at www.grabajab.net.
Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy
We urge pregnant women to get the Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible. New data suggests a worrying rise in Covid-19 hospital admissions among unvaccinated pregnant women in the UK and that the Delta variant poses a significantly greater risk to pregnant women than previous strains.
Further information to signpost pregnant staff members is available here – COVID-19 vaccination: women of childbearing age, currently pregnant or breastfeeding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Posters you may like to use in staff areas can be found here - Pregnant? Have your COVID-19 vaccines posters - Health Publications.
Covid-19 vaccination for 16 and 17-year-olds
Everyone aged 16 and over can now have a Covid-19 vaccination. Those 17 ¾ and over, can book their vaccine using the National Booking System or you can attend one of the walk-in clinics. People who are 16-17 ¾ can attend some of the local walk-in clinics (see www.grabajab.net, includes Cabot Circus Thursday, Friday and Saturday (11am-7pm)) or they may be contacted by their GP.