Confusion over new visiting rules see familes banned from Thanet care homes
Distressed families have been told they cannot visit loved ones after all - because some residents have been sent shielding letters
Care homes across Thanet are continuing to bar families because of "confusing new guidelines" which they say rule out visits for homes with shielding residents.
Care home managers said they had to make the heartbreaking call to decline visits, which the Government had said would be allowed from Monday, because the new guidelines were unclear.
A number of homes told the Gazette they had faced shock and upset from families who had been expecting one nominated person to be allowed to see loved ones after a year of separation.
Lynda Mitchell, who owns and runs the Newlyn Residential Home in Ramsgate said all 12 of her residents had shielding letters and she had been told because of this visits would not be allowed until March 31 at the earliest.
"We were all preparing for visits from the 8th - then two days ago we were told we could not go ahead because we had a group which are shielding," she said.
"It was a shock. No-one really knows what is the next move. Just when you think you have got something - then they move the goalposts."
Mrs Mitchell said she faced breaking the news to distressed family members which was "very sad" but she said keeping residents safe was the home's top priority and there had been no coronavirus outbreaks throughout the pandemic.
She added there appeared to be general confusion as to why some residents were told to shield and others not.
"Everyone just wants some clear guidelines," she added.
Elsewhere other homes looking after residents with similar conditions like dementia were opening up.
Chelsea Cook, senior carer at Claremont Care Home in Margate said visits had started on Monday with two a day planned for the foreseeable future.
"The residents are all very happy. We are allowing one visitor in the morning and one in the afternoon," she said.
Helen Wildbore, director of the Relatives and Residents Association said the organisation had been receiving a number of calls from distressed relatives.
She said it appeared shielding letters had been sent out to residents over the last few days. In addition Department of Health guidance published on Monday was unclear meaning many homes had opted not to open up.
She said the association had contacted the Department of Health over the confusing guidelines and these had now been updated, making clear visits to homes including shielding residents were allowed. But this was not getting through to care homes which was "really concerning".
A spokesman for the Department of Health confirmed being on the "shielded list" should not prevent visits.
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