Care homes and hospitals must be fully open to visitors to end the isolation of patients and residents, an MP has warned.
Shipley MP Philip Davies said visiting loved ones was a “crucial and fundamental right” and contact also improved health outcomes in many cases.
He said despite Covid restrictions being lifted, many constituents were still facing problems visiting their families both locally and further afield.
Mr Davies said: “I have spoken to constituents who are rightly frustrated by the red tape they are facing when trying to see their loved ones. It appears it is a postcode lottery with regards to access. Some care homes and hospitals are fully re-opened for visiting while others are allowing no visitors.
“All hospitals and care homes should now be allowing relatives to visit their loved ones.”
Charities and patient groups have criticised hospitals and care homes which are restricting visitors and said the “blanket ban” posed more risk to the patients than the virus.
Earlier this week the All-Party Parliamentary group on Pandemic Recovery heard from doctors and mental health workers who claimed visiting restrictions were affecting patients, even to the point of refusing care and treatment. Concerns were raised about safeguarding, hygiene, nutrition as well as loneliness and the impact on mental health.
Mr Davies, who is part of the APPG, added: “People are being isolated and kept away from loved ones as if they were in prison. In some cases, the lack of contact will mean there is no one to advocate for that patient or resident. I am extremely concerned how some hospitals and care homes are overinterpreting the testing rules to allow the isolation of patients and residents to continue.”
Mr Davies wants Government, Local Authorities, the NHS, the Care Quality Commission, and all organisations involved in care to act to end these “cruel visiting restrictions” and ensure pre-Covid visiting is reintroduced.
