SCORES of care homes in the North-East and North Yorkshire have gone into lockdown and temporarily suspended ‘all but essential’ visits from relatives.

More than 60 care homes across County Durham, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and North Yorkshire have banned family and friends of residents, non-essential suppliers and home entertainers amidst coronavirus concerns.

The Northern Echo has today learnt that all care homes run by Wellburn Care Homes Ltd, HC-One and Hill Care Ltd have enforced the strict rules as the number of COVID-19 cases in the UK rises each day.

A statement from Wellburn Care Homes Ltd, which runs sites in Richmond, Washington, Gateshead, Newcastle and York, said it had taken the decision in efforts to avoid an ‘outbreak’ in homes.

It said: “Our senior management team met yesterday and after consulting with home managers, we’ve taken the decision to close all 14 of our homes to visitors and non-essential maintenance with immediate effect.

“We understand this decision will be as difficult for some to hear as it has been for us to make. Regular visits are something we actively encourage, but these are unprecedented times.”

Meanwhile, HC-One, which runs sites in Redcar, Stockton, Guisborough, Leeming Bar and Harrogate, echoed concerns but said the health and safety of residents and colleagues remained a “top priority.”

A statement from HC-One said: “We have not taken this decision lightly, but we know our visitors, including relatives and loved ones, would want us to do everything possible to keep the Residents in our care safe and well.

“Non-essential visits include routine visits from Relatives and loved ones, visits from individuals such as hairdressers and entertainers, and from professionals and contractors carrying out non-essential services.”

HC-One said it was now asking those who wanted to visit to ‘delay’ or instead, use other resources via a telephone call or video call.

A spokesperson for Hill Care Ltd, which also runs several homes in the region, said it had cancelled visits from the local community and external entertainment visits for the “’foreseeable future.”

A spokesperson said: “We are asking you not to visit unless it is absolutely essential in order to keep your loved ones, and all our other residents, as safe as possible.

“Our staff will do all they can to ensure that life in our services remains as comfortable and sociable as possible. We will still ensure that vital medical visits are made."

All care homes said requests for 'essential' visits and visits under exceptional circumstances will be considered by the management.

So far the number of COVID-19 cases across the UK stands at 798, a sharp increase from figures last reported on Thursday afternoon which stood at 590 confirmed cases.

The care homes closed to visitors under Wellburn Care Homes

  • Nightingale Hall, Richmond
  • Eighton Lodge, Gateshead
  • Ryton Towers, Gateshead
  • Whorlton Grange, Newcastle
  • Craghall, Jesmond
  • Glenholme House, Sunderland
  • St George's, Washington
  • Heatherdale, Northumberland
  • Wellburn House, Northumberland
  • St Catherine's, York
  • Rosevale, York
  • Grimston Court, York

The care homes closed to visitors under Hill Care Ltd

  • The Oaks, Blyth
  • Willowdene,Hebburn
  • Waverley Lodge in Lemington, Newcastle
  • Pelton Grange, Chester-le-Street
  • Bannatyne Lodge, Peterlee
  • Queens Meadow, Hartlepool
  • The Beeches, Stockton
  • Ingleby, Stockton
  • Mandale House, Thornaby
  • The Gables in Middlesbrough
  • Briarwood in Eston, Cleveland
  • Hazelgrove Court, Saltburn
  • Sycamore Hall, Ripon
  • Beechwood, Northallerton

The care homes closed to visitors under HC-One

  • Grosvenor House, Harrogate
  • Leeming Garth, Leeming Bar
  • Beaconsfield Court, Barnard Castle
  • Highfield, Yarm
  • Park House, Guisborough
  • St Peter's Court, Redcar
  • Roseberry Court, Redcar
  • Victoria House, Stockton
  • St Clare's Court, Newton Aycliffe
  • Defoe Court, Newton Aycliffe
  • Eden House, Bishop Auckland
  • Bishopsgate Lodge, Bishop Auckland
  • Tenlands, Ferryhill
  • Lothian House, Spennymoor
  • Brierton Lodge, Seaton Carew
  • Sheraton Court, Hartlepool
  • Greenways Court, Consett
  • Stoneleigh, near Stanley
  • St Margaret's, Durham
  • Melbury Court, Durham
  • Grampian Court, Peterlee
  • Jack Dormand, Peterlee
  • Springfield House, Gateshead
  • Hawthorn Court, Gateshead
  • Needham Court, Gateshead
  • Hebburn Court, Gateshead
  • Hawthorn Court, Roker
  • Falstone Court, Roker
  • Northview Lodge, Sunderland
  • Ashton Grange, Sunderland
  • Ashbourne Lodge, Sunderland

*This list covers much of The Northern Echo readers' patch and may be missing care homes from your part of the region. We advise contacting your relatives' care home for individual advice.