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The government has announced new regulations that will make visiting a legal requirement for hospitals and care homes as part of proposed legislation on visiting in health and care settings.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) will also have new powers to make sure providers are allowing families to visit loved ones.
Health and care settings should be allowing visits, according to the guidance from the government and NHS England currently in place, but there are reported cases where visiting access is being unfairly denied.
As a result, the government is seeking views from patients, care home residents, their families, professionals and providers on the introduction of secondary legislation on visiting restrictions.
Law changes on visiting
Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “I know how important visiting is for someone in hospital or living in a care home, and for their families. I know from my own experience too – I know what it feels like to be told you can’t see your mum in hospital. That’s why I’m so determined to make sure we change the law on visiting.
“Many care homes and hospitals have made huge progress on visiting and recognising carers since the pandemic. But I don’t want anyone to have to worry about visiting any more, or to face unnecessary restrictions or even bans.”
The CQC does currently have powers to clamp down on unethical visiting restrictions, but the expected standard of visiting is not specifically outlined in regulations. Current guidance from government and the NHS is clear that all care homes and hospitals in England respectively are expected to facilitate visits in a risk-managed way, such as through the use of face coverings in the event of an outbreak or in the reduction of the number of visitors at one time.
Patricia Mecinska, Assistant Director of Patient Experience at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust added: “At King’s, our teams recognise the invaluable contribution that friends, carers and loved ones make to the patients under our care, including supporting us to provide care that’s respectful of our patients’ needs, so enabling them to make a positive recovery.
“Plans to involve care supporters in a more formalised way will be welcomed by many patients and will aid us in delivering our vision of providing outstanding care to patients and communities.”