At the All Wales Forum we are aware that the current pandemic situation and the uncertainty surrounding it is bringing great pressures and concerns to families supporting relatives across Wales. We’re here for you, and are continuing to advocate for your voice to be heard by ensuring that family concerns are part of key decision making conversations with Welsh Government, service providers and wider community partners. Key to this is sharing good quality and accurate information, so that you can make the best decisions possible and feel some confidence in how processes will work.
To avoid confusion and to keep the access routes simple, we are working together in partnership with All Wales Peoples First, Mencap Cymru and Learning Disability Wales to bring together the most up to date and accurate information around the pandemic as we can for individuals, family carers and service providers via a central web page ‘hub’ being hosted and updated by LDW, with all four organisations feeding into it each week. On this page you can find easy read documents relating to the virus, updated guidance from Public Health Wales and useful links to other resources. Public Health Wales, NHS Cymru and Welsh Government colleagues are also connecting to this space.
In addition to the above, we will also be updating families and networks through our social media channels, and we can offer support by being contacted directly, or families can contact the Mencap Helpline to record specific issues should they wish and answer any questions.
Learning Disability Wales News– https://www.ldw.org.uk/project/coronavirus/
Mencap Cymru ‘Learning Disability Helpline’– Give them a call on 0808 8000 300 or email helpline.wales@mencap.org.uk
AWF Facebook– www.facebook.com/AllWalesForum
AWF Twitter– www.twitter.com/AllWalesForum
Many of you will have been concerned by recent press coverage around the DNR letters that some GP surgeries in Britain sent out to families and care providers. While they were few in number, the potential damage they caused was clear for all of us as families to both see and feel.
As a result, the All Wales Forum, alongside some of our third sector friends, have been working in partnership with Welsh Government to generate a letter to go to frontline health services to clarify what should be done. The letter below (please click thumbnail images to enlarge) makes it clear that a blanket approach to DNR is not acceptable. It will be going out to frontline services this week.
We hope it goes some way to providing some reassurance, although we know that the times we face bring many concerns. Please remember we’re here for you, and we recognise that the pressures are even greater right now. Together we are a strong voice for families and the people we support, and we will keep advocating for that voice to be heard.
You will be able to find a copy of this letter in Easy-read and Welsh via the below link:
https://www.ldw.org.uk/project/coronavirus/
Useful information from Public Health Wales explaining what they mean by ‘people who are extremely vulnerable’ and should ‘shield’ from others. It also gives some useful information about how to look after people if they are in this group.
Please find below an important update to visitor guidance to in-patient health settings in times of Coronavirus from the Chief Nursing Officer, NHS Wales.
Mencap Cymru have been advised by the Police that taking a disabled person out for a therapeutic drive would be considered as essential travel under medical reasons.
If you have any other queries linked to #coronavirus please call The Wales Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 8000 300
The Wales Carers Alliance has written a letter to Welsh Government to highlight the key issues and concerns carers have raised which have been caused by the impact of coronavirus.
The Alliance is an alliance of Welsh charities that exists to uphold unpaid carers rights and champion the voice of carers across Wales.
You can read the full letter by clicking on the link below:
Flexible use of Direct Payments during the pandemic
Social Care Wales has updated the use of Direct Payments in Wales during this pandemic.
Find questions and answers about how COVID-19 might affect direct payments in Wales, including employees and workers self-isolating, and furloughing staff.
New volunteer prescription delivery scheme to support those shielding or self-isolating
The Health Minister has announced new arrangements to ensure people who are shielding or self-isolating can continue to get their medicines.
This may be a crucial service for some families who are shielding and don’t have family or immediate neighbours to help out.
The effect of the coronavirus pandemic on people with Learning Disabilities
All Wales People’s 1st have published the first of their findings on how the Coronavirus pandemic is effecting self-advocacy groups and people with learning disabilities across Wales.
To read the full report, click on the link below:
Written statement on Carers from Julie Morgan AM, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services
Coronavirus Home Test Kit
Following the announcement from the Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, any person over the age of five showing symptoms can now request a home testing kit.
In Wales, they are prioritising the testing of symptomatic critical workers to enable them to return to work safely and quickly.
Test stocks are still being rolled out, so it’s important that individuals only request a testing kit if they are showing key symptoms, as this ensures that tests are available for when someone needs one.
Changes to advice for people shielding from coronavirus are being introduced from Monday 1 June
There are two changes to the advice for this group:
- Outdoor exercise is unlimited, as long as individuals strictly follow social distancing rules and hygiene practices.
- Those who are shielding can meet outside with people from another household – but should not go into another person’s house or share food with them.
To read the full announcement, follow this link- https://media.service.gov.wales/news/shielding-people-can-meet-others-and-exercise-outdoors?fbclid=IwAR139nVm3IxphI16TA5cXxMcv-cu_5Iu9xAGE4hQ2eB124PF_9uPwMQAph8
If you have any concerns or queries regarding these changes, please get in touch with us.
The Wales Carer Alliance have written a response to Welsh Government and the Senior Medical Officer for Wales’ response to the Wales Carers Alliance letter highlighting the concerns of unpaid Carers across Wales.
To read the full response, please follow the link below:
Living with the COVID-19 pandemic:
Learning Disability Family Carers in Wales – ‘what matters’ to us?
A short report to share the experiences of life in lockdown for parents and carers of people with learning disabilities and how we can ensure they get the right support moving into the “new normal”
Life in Lockdown for LD Families in Wales – An All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers Report .
The Welsh Government have published new guidance for unpaid carers on the access and use of PPE.
https://gov.wales/covid-19-guidance-unpaid-carers-personal-protective-equipment-ppe
Care Inspectorate Wales is seeking feedback from families regarding the facilitation of outdoor visits
We encourage carers to feed into this and let them know how well you think it’s going.
To feedback your thoughts, please follow the link below:
https://careinspectorate.wales/contact-us/get-in-touch
To read the guidance that has been issued to provides, please follow the link below:
https://gov.wales/visits-care-homes-guidance-providers-html
New Lockdown Measures for Wales from Friday 23rd October
All nonessential retail, leisure, hospitality and tourism will close. Community centres, libraries and recycling centres will close. Places of worship will be closed for normal services, except funerals or wedding ceremonies.
Childcare will stay open. Primary and special schools will reopen after half-term. Secondary schools will reopen after half term for children in years 7 & 8. Pupils can attend for exams both other pupils will learn from home for an extra week. Universities and colleges will continue to provide a blend of in person and online learning. If students have reading weeks or half-term they are also being asked to stay at home in their university accommodation. There will be no gatherings with people you do not live with either indoors or outdoors during the two-week period. There will be an exception for adults living alone and single parents who will be able to join with one other household for support.
More information: Coronavirus circuit break – frequently asked questions: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-firebreak-frequently-asked-questions?fbclid=IwAR2KYPSjwtyVB07L9atDuaOVjn2EPXvoy9L8Y5LpOKzCbD77dnF1JbosnKY