govt guidance on health needs changes

[Sally Eva]

https://www.bindmans.com/news/government-guidance-changed-to-permit-people-with-specific-health-needs-to-exercise-outside-more-than-once-a-day-and-to-travel-to-do-so-where-necessary

It now says

You can leave your home for medical need. If you (or a person in your care) have a specific health condition that requires you to leave the home to maintain your health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area - then you can do so. This could, for example, include where individuals with learning disabilities or autism require specific exercise in an open space two or three times each day - ideally in line with a care plan agreed with a medical professional.

Lambeth Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Team (based at SLAM) are providing these letters. I don't know if Southwark has an equivalent. Follows threat of legal action.

[Blah Blah]

I agree. But to be fair to government, things have moved so fast that developing policy that takes consideration of all the different impacts is an impossible task. This is why things change daily following the flagging of issues by various professional bodies. For example, social workers are starting to raise concerns about children at risk, that they can not visit and whom are not being send to the school options open to them. The last place you want a child at risk to be, is in the home for 24 hours a day. The same is true of those in care homes that do not understand what is happening and why relatives can not visit. All of these things are challenges.

[seenbeen]

Domestic abuse is on the rise too

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/09/uk-domestic-abuse-helplines-report-surge-in-calls-during-lockdown