Key Summary
- Patients will no longer be cut off from their loved ones unless in exceptional circumstances.
- The new drive follows a recent government review, which found that many people continue to face barriers in visitation.
- To make sure people’s rights are being protected, the government will work closely with the Care Quality Commission to monitor compliance.
The government has decided to strengthen visiting rights and end blanket bans at care homes, hospitals and hospices, to enable people visit their loved ones without any hassles and mitigate the impact of isolation of inmates.
Patients will no longer be cut off from their loved ones unless in exceptional circumstances.
Care minister Stephen Kinnock said, "Contact with family and friends should not be seen as a luxury but a basic part of good care."
The new drive follows a recent government review, which found that many people continue to face barriers in visitation, and they were excluded from key decisions about their care.
Concerns were raised about blanket restrictions and family members being denied access to vulnerable patients, as well as residents and families being cut out of decisions around care or visitation.
To deliver a cultural change and compliance across all health and care settings, the government will distribute comprehensive guidance and resources to make visitation rights clear.
Resources that health and care settings will receive include an explainer sheet or poster for people that details their visiting rights under Regulation 9A and routes to complain if they feel these are not being followed.
Regulation 9A came into force in April 2024 and aims to ensure that people in care homes, hospitals or hospices can receive visits from people they want to see.
Care homes, hospitals and hospice providers will also receive draft advice explaining any necessary restrictions to residents, patients and family members.
To make sure people’s rights are being protected, the government will work closely with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to monitor compliance and intervene where necessary.
Ministers are also exploring proposals for legislating visiting rights as part of wider reform.
Care Rights UK CEO, Helen Wildbore, said, "We should all be able to have the support of our closest friends or family when we need them. We continually support older people who have access to their trusted loved ones restricted, limiting vital practical support they offer and causing serious detriment to their well-being and dignity.
"We welcome the news that ministers are exploring legislative change to promote the importance of family and carers as equal partners in care. The legal right to a care supporter would ensure everyone has access to their trusted loved one when they most need support."
