Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consultation his Department undertook with (a) residents and (b) the families of residents in care homes, when forming the most recent guidance on care home visiting.
Care homes visiting guidance was updated on 31 January 2022. This reflected feedback received during regular stakeholder meetings where potential changes to policy and guidance are discussed. The Relatives and Residents Association, Age UK and the Alzheimer’s Society attend our regular stakeholder meetings to represent the perspective of residents and families.
The Department reviewed all guidance in September 2021 to ensure it meets the needs of the adult social care sector and care recipients. This included a series of focus groups with residents and families.