A new Bill designed to protect the rights of families to visit their loved ones in care homes is being introduced in the House of Lords today.

The Protection of Care Recipients and Carers Bill is being presented by Lord Hunt of King’s Heath.

Lord Hunt said: “ I hope to get my Bill debated in the Lords because I am very worried that the health, well-being and rights of people in residential care, their families and carers, brought to light during the Covid-19 pandemic, are too often ignored.

“My Bill introduces regulatory and other legal mechanisms to guarantee that care users have reasonable access to, and support from, loved ones. In particular, provisions are included to protect residents from increasingly common patterns of institutional abuse, in which care homes retaliate against residents or relatives who complain by banning visits, threatening residents with eviction and sometimes evicting them.

“My aim is to persuade the government to bring its own legislation forward to deal with these critical areas of concern.”

Welcoming the Bill’s introduction, Rights for Residents campaign manager at Care Rights UK, Diane Mayhew, said: “Without the legal right to an essential care supporter there is no guarantee that history will not repeat itself. It is clear from the Covid Inquiry that government cannot be trusted to ensure the human rights of those in health and care settings are protected.  Every one of us should be able to nominate a close relative or friend who can be with us in all circumstances, regardless of future lock downs, pandemics or a national crisis. The very least this government could do after these shocking revelations is to pass this legislation.”

Julia Jones from John’s Campaign said: “There are some people still in the government — and in all political parties — as well as in social care and the NHS, who did not agree with these cruel and damaging separations. This is their chance to put Parliamentary time and professional judgement to ensure such abuse of power can never happen again.”

The government launched a consultation on care home visiting proposals in June, although these were meant with a cool response by care campaigners.

The results of the consultation are expected to be published by the government soon.