Visiting in care homes and hospitals during the covid-19 outbreak

That this House notes the letter from the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the matter of visits to people in care homes and hospitals during the covid-19 outbreak; is deeply concerned about the acute distress many older and disabled people and younger people in residential care and their families are experiencing by being prevented from visiting; recognises that a failure to adopt an individualised approach to the safety of visits risks breaching the right of patients, residents and their families to family life (Article 8 ECHR); further recognises that this must be balanced with the duty to protect the right to life (Article 2 ECHR) for those living and working in care homes and hospitals by preventing infection within these settings; further notes the Committee’s proposals in the draft regulations using powers in the Health and Social Care Act 2008, which they published alongside their letter; and calls on the Government to legislate to ensure that visits are able to take place subject to individualised risk assessments.