Invisible no more: unpaid care giving in the shadow of covid-19 (4 July 2023)

Summary

Reflecting on the impact of restrictions placed on families and visitors to hospitals and care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic, this article, published in the BMJ, argues that families must be recognised and valued as partners in patient care.

Content

Key messages in this article include:

• Families are vital to patient care and safety, but their contribution is predominantly unrecognised by healthcare systems and service providers.
• Families were shut out from hospitals and care facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic, creating negative consequences for both patients and staff.
• As families resume their caring roles, we have the opportunity to recognise them as partners in care and support them with practical measures across all care settings.