'Care bubbles' exempt from interhousehold mixing ban in England's lockdown areas

Informal care arrangements for adults in ‘care bubbles’ can continue in areas under lockdown in England which have banned household mixing, the government has announced.

The caring exemption, which came into force today (22 September), means ‘care bubbles’ can be formed to allow informal carers to have a break and share caring responsibilities with another household.

A relative or friend can continue to care for a 'vulnerable' adult from a different household as an informal carer in all current and future lockdown areas across the nation, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced in the House of Commons.

Matt Hancock told MPs: "I'm able to announce a new exemption for looking after children under the age of 14 or vulnerable adults where that is necessary for caring purposes.

"This covers both formal and informal arrangements. "I hope this change will provide clarity and comfort to many people who are living with these local restrictions."

Interhousehold mixing is currently banned in some areas under local restrictions, including parts of the North West and North East.

'Carers were anxious'

The announcement has been welcomed by carers.

Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “In the height of the April lockdown we heard from many carers who were very unsure about whether they were allowed to leave their home to visit the person they care for, and were anxious about not being able to provide the care that person needed.

“The government’s announcement to allow unpaid carers to continue to provide care to a vulnerable person and form care bubbles in areas of local lockdown will be appreciated by carers, and provide them with reassurance that they and other family members will be able to continue to provide essential care for their older or disabled relatives.”

Carers have also expressed thanks for the government’s adult social care COVID-19 winter plan. Emily Holzhausen, director of policy and public affairs at Carers UK, said: “We are very pleased that Government has considered the needs of unpaid carers in its winter plan, encouraging local authorities to use the Infection Control Fund to help reinstate the services carers so desperately need to take a break.

“Six months of reduced day services has meant a significant proportion of family carers have been placed under intolerable pressure, providing complex care for months on end without any time out. “Reinstated services, alongside support to identify alternative arrangements to help them take a break, will help carers and the people they care for manage better over the winter”.

Carers UK also welcomed the government’s decision to extend funding to the Carers UK helpline until March 2021, which ‘will ensure we can put larger numbers of carers in touch with information and support they need during this challenging period’.