Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospitals are not permitting family members to visit patients in hospital as on 7 July 2022.

The information requested is not collected centrally. NHS England’s guidance states that providers should facilitate visits while managing the associated risks. Visiting should be accommodated for at least one hour per day and ideally for longer. Visiting policies should also reflect that COVID-19 is in general circulation. National Health Service trusts and other organisations are responsible for local risk assessments to implement visiting policies.