Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Care Settings: Family Visits

Tuesday 11 July 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Dan Carden asked about steps to ensure family visits in care settings, expressing concern over potential restrictions.
  • The Minister responded that national guidance is generally followed and launched a consultation in June to address concerns.
  • Dan Carden inquired if the consultation would differentiate between care supporters and visitors, noting the Care Quality Commission does not currently do so.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dan Carden Lab Liverpool Walton
Care & Healthcare Workers NHS
Context

The issue concerns the importance of allowing family members to visit loved ones in care homes, hospitals, and hospices. National guidance is followed by most health and care providers.

Question

What steps he is taking to ensure that people in care settings are permitted family visits. The national guidance is generally followed but there is concern about potential restrictions affecting families' ability to visit their loved ones in care homes, hospitals, and hospices.

Answer from Helen Whately

I know how important it is for people in care homes, hospitals and hospices to see their family and friends. The majority of health and care providers follow national guidance. I do not want anyone to worry about not being able to visit a loved one, which is why in June we launched a consultation to change the law on visiting.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps taken or planned to ensure family visits are permitted were not detailed. The answer was more general and referenced a future consultation.

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Q2 Dan Carden Lab Liverpool Walton
Care & Healthcare Workers
Context

The hon. Member introduced his ten-minute rule Bill, the Care Supporters Bill, to ensure that care supporters are recognised in law and have legal standing. The current lack of investigation by the Care Quality Commission on individual cases is an issue.

Question

As the Minister knows, last month I introduced my ten-minute rule Bill, the Care Supporters Bill, to make sure that we recognise in law the value of the care of a loved one. Will her consultation differentiate between a care supporter and a visitor? Currently, the Care Quality Commission does not investigate individual cases. Will it have the power to do that in future?

Answer from Helen Whately

First, I commend the hon. Member for his campaign on this issue. He has been a powerful advocate and draws on his own experience, as do I. He is probably asking me to pre-empt the outcome of the consultation. I encourage him and others concerned about this matter to put their views into that consultation, and we will respond once it is closed.

Not addressed: The question was not directly answered; instead, the Minister encouraged further input through a future consultation without addressing whether the CQC would investigate individual cases or differentiate between care supporters and visitors in law.

How: Encouraged Further Input, Asked To Pre-Empt Outcome

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