DHSC open consultation: Visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices (21 June 2023)

Summary

Visits from loved ones are vital to the health and wellbeing of people receiving care in care homes, hospitals and hospices.

There have been concerns about visiting restrictions in health and care settings for several years, and the restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these concerns. While those restrictions were in place at the time to control the risk of transmission and keep people safe, it was detrimental for loved ones to have been kept apart or not to have had someone supporting them in hospital.

Guidance is now clear that visiting should be encouraged and facilitated in all circumstances.

This consultation seeks views on introducing secondary legislation to protect visiting as a fundamental standard across CQC-registered settings so that no one is denied reasonable access to visitors while they are resident in a care home, or a patient in hospital or a hospice. This includes accompanying people to hospital appointments (outpatients or diagnostic visits).

Related reading on the hub:

• Visiting restrictions and the impact on patients and their families: a relative's perspective
• It’s time to rename the ‘visitor’: reflections from a relative