Final guidance on visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices

Summary

Following consultation, the Care Quality Commission have now published final guidance to help providers understand and meet the new fundamental standard on visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals, and hospices.

The guidance (on Regulation 9A: visiting in care homes, hospitals, and hospices) also sets out what people using health and social care services and their families, friends or advocates can expect.

Content

Regulation 9A: visiting in care homes, hospitals, and hospices aims to make sure:

• people staying in a care home, hospital or hospice can receive visits from people they want to see
• people living in a care home are not discouraged from taking visits outside the home
• people attending appointments in a hospital or hospice, that do not require an overnight stay, can be accompanied by a family member, friend or advocate if they want someone with them.
• The regulation explains what providers must do to make sure they respect the right of each person to receive visits and to be accompanied, following an assessment of their needs and preferences.