What's New

Care Quality Commission (CQC) figures have shown that one in five dementia care homes in England are failing patients diagnosed with dementia.

Health and Social Care Minister Sajid Javid has announced that the law on vaccination as a condition of deployment in the NHS and all adult social care in England will be reviewed in light of the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that care home residents in England will be able to receive unlimited visitors from 31 January, as the restrictions to tackle the Omicron variant are eased.

More than a third (37%) of people and more than half (55%) of 18- to 34-year-olds would be more likely to apply for a job if they knew the employer had good parental leave policies, according to a report produced by Vodaphone.

According to research from the National Care Forum (NCF), nearly half of care homes have closed their doors to new residents and two-thirds of domiciliary care providers are turning down requests for home care because of staff shortages.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published operational guidance for the implementation of mandatory vaccination as a condition of employment (VCOD) in wider, non-residential adult social care settings.

Operational guidance on mandatory vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) in care homes was updated on 20 January 2022.

The Scottish Government has followed England and Wales in lifting many of the restrictions imposed during the pandemic (see Phased easing of Covid restrictions to continue in Wales and Prime Minister confirms return to Plan A).

Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hailed the success of the booster campaign and the way the public have responded to his Government’s Plan B measures (see Government to stick with Plan B until at least 26 January).

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has warned of the impact of the cost of living crisis as ministers consider raising the upper age limit for prescription charges in England from 60 to 66.