Liverpool MP brings forward bill for legal right to visit loved ones

He says the care of a loved one is ‘not an optional extra’

A Liverpool MP has brought forward legislation to end the ‘postcode lottery’ with visiting loved ones in hospital and care homes.

Dan Carden’s bill would give patients the legal right to have a relative or friend by their side at all times.

The Labour politician was personally affected – he faced a battle during the pandemic to visit his terminally ill father in hospital.

Mr Carden said:

“The care of a loved one is not an optional extra – it is an absolutely essential part of dignified care.

“Separation and isolation have a deeply harmful impact on individuals, but particularly on those who are vulnerable. For those who are approaching the end of life, the impact cannot be understated.

“My bill seeks to recognise these fundamental points and put them into law.

These problems will not be solved through further tweaks to guidance

“Throughout the pandemic, guidance proved consistently inadequate. It applied with levels of uncertainty and variability that led to a postcode lottery as separate settings interpreted guidance differently.

“There is also a clear lack or recourse when guidance is applied incorrectly as well as a wide power imbalance between service users and care providers.

“These problems will not be solved through further tweaks to guidance. Past practice has shown this.

“Older and disabled people, those affected by dementia, stroke and other cognitive impairments, those with a mental or physical disability – these are some of the most powerless people in our society.

“They often do not have the ability to challenge decisions made at care homes or hospitals and in the worst, but not uncommon circumstances, they are unable to defend themselves against abuse, neglect or inhumane conditions.

“The devastating impact of all of this does not only affect those in receipt of care, but also their loved ones.

“Further, poor quality data on visiting means we cannot appreciate the full scale of the problem. Data doesn’t capture when visits are only allowed for a short period of time, where young people are disallowed from visiting or where people cannot see parents, husbands or wives directly in their rooms.

“There is also a principle at stake. Do we as society give the right to institutions of the state or private, namely hospitals or care homes, to deny us contact with family and loved ones because they are in receipt of their care?

“Or do we believe we should keep our right to maintain contact with loved ones, regardless of health or care needs? I think it’s obvious.

“I firmly believe we should make a clear choice for the latter and enshrine that right in law in this house.”

The bill has cross-party support and has also been backed by a number of charities and voluntary groups, including Rights for Residents.

The bill is due to be debated by MPs in November.

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