The Director of Public Health for NHS Lanarkshire has offered a renewed assurance to care home residents and their families that the reinstatement of indoor visiting remains under close review.

Gabe Docherty also stressed that his unremitting focus is on keeping residents safe and the current position, not to reintroduce routine indoor visiting, is based on robust data of Covid-19 prevalence.

Mr Docherty said: “First and foremost, I am acutely aware of how difficult the ongoing restrictions to indoor visiting are for residents and their families. These are not decisions that are taken lightly or, indeed, without long and hard consideration of all the facts.

“Families and residents have my full sympathy as I know how challenging the current restrictions are to live with.

“Unfortunately, however, the local prevalence of Covid-19 is such that we are not able to reintroduce indoor visiting in Lanarkshire care homes at this time.

“To do so would substantially increase the risk of Covid-19 spreading to our most vulnerable residents, which could – and most likely would – have catastrophic consequences. That is a risk I simply cannot accept.”

Mr Docherty continued: “I would like to express sincere thanks to families and residents for their understanding and forbearance.

“They should be absolutely assured that we will continue to assess the situation closely and frequently with colleagues, looking to robust local and national data. I am keen that indoor visiting is reinstated as soon as there is evidence that it is safe to do so. We will, of course, continue to keep members of the public updated on the situation and make clear indoor visiting options we would propose, as soon as we are in a position to do so.”

Indoor visiting for end of life care or to support a resident’s wellbeing at times of distress can continue, as long as all infection prevention and control measures are in place, including appropriate use of PPE. If families have concerns about their loved one they should not hesitate to discuss with the care home manager.

Mr Docherty added: “This has been, and continues to be, a very challenging time for care home residents, their families and, indeed, staff.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their continued support during the pandemic and everything they are doing to keep care home residents safe.”