Care Group Will Still Ban Hugs For 10,000 Residents

A MAJOR care home operator has said it wants families vaccinated before they can hug their relatives.

- Giles Sheldrick

Despairing families were promised in the Prime Minister’s roadmap that one named individual could visit a home and hold hands with a resident by March 8.

But Barchester Healthcare, which runs 200 homes looking after 10,000 people, initially said this was “too soon” to open up.

Now it wants a “phased and careful approach” and is asking for the named visitor to have had the jab.

Jenny Morrison, of campaigners Rights for Residents, said: “We have been inundated with furious relatives who have received a letter from Barchester.