House of Commons Back Bench Business Debate – Guaranteeing Contact in Care Settings.
On Thursday 27th October, a landmark debate took place in the House of Commons. The debate was organised by a group of cross party MPs led by Dan Carden (Lab) Daisy Cooper (Lib Dem) Tracey Crouch (Con) and Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru)
During the debate, MPs from all parties supported the Rights for Residents Campaign and called on the Government to enshrine in law, the right of all those in health and care settings to have at least one Essential Care Supporter that could visit in all circumstances.
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Opening the debate Dan Carden, MP for Liverpool Walton said:
“People across the United Kingdom are still having to face their time in hospitals, care homes and other care settings completely alone and detached from the people they hold dearest. They are some of the most vulnerable and frail people in our society; some of them will be nearing the end of their lives. The devastating impact of this isolation and of denying contact with loved ones affects those in receipt of care and also their loved ones. It is difficult to imagine, unless we have personal experience, the anguish, pain and stress of not knowing when we will next see our loved one—our husband, wife, mother or father—and repeatedly asking ourselves, “Are they okay? Are they comfortable? Do they even know that I care?”
Minister for Care, Helen Whately said that she “welcomed the debate” as it’s such an important issue:
“there is clearly still a problem. I have also seen the data from the Rights For Residents survey showing that 45% of responses said that restrictions on visiting had still been in place since April, and in 11% of outbreaks no visitors were allowed at all. Again, I am concerned to see that” … I have commissioned work on what I can do to sort this out. I assure all hon. Members on the Chamber and all those listening to the debate that I do not consider the status quo acceptable, and I am on the case”.
The Shadow Minister for Care, Liz Kendall said:
