Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on care home visiting during the covid-19 outbreak of the restriction by some private sector care homes of visits to residents by friends and families despite guidance from his Department that visits are permitted; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all care homes allow visits unless there is a reasonable reason not to.

Care home visiting must be supported wherever and whenever it is possible and safe to do so. Our guidance makes clear that care homes should support visiting as the default. We are supporting the care home sector to encourage and enable care homes to do so, to avoid care homes or local areas restricting visiting where that is not justified. We are currently working with our regional assurance team, local authorities and the Care Quality Commission to make sure that guidance is followed. This approach allows us to move swiftly in changing circumstances and to accommodate all care homes.