The Government has published its response to the consultation on visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices
The consultation sought views on a proposal to introduce a fundamental standard on visiting in different settings, principally as a response to the difficulties faced by many during the COVID-19 pandemic and the recognition that visiting restrictions have since caused significant damage to the health and wellbeing of patients and residents in healthcare settings and care homes.
Having received “overwhelming support” for its proposal, the Government has confirmed that it will now work with CQC to develop and introduce the new visiting standard. In the first instance it will develop regulations to support the implementation of the new visiting standard, so that the CQC will be able to assess registered settings against this standard and as part of its existing enforcement powers. Ultimately the aim is to ensure that visiting is a treated as a fundamental requirement and that providers account for the vital role that visiting plays in their patients’ lives.
The Government will also introduce guidance to ensure that the new standard is “clear and upheld” and that there is a “consistent understanding of what is acceptable across all relevant providers.”
In answer to respondents’ concerns on government guidance being "unclear, and that strict visiting times and complicated complaints processes were some of the barriers to visiting" in health and care settings, it will also seek to make guidance on the complaints process clearer for when issues do arise.
The new standard will not apply in all circumstances, particularly where visiting may represent a threat to individuals. Services for substance misuse and inpatient detoxification or rehabilitation will be excluded from the scope of the new regulations. Supported living settings and “extra care” housing schemes will also fall outside the scope of the regulations.
The regulations will also address indirect barriers to social contact. Consultation respondents raised concerns that care home residents are discouraged from taking visits out of their homes by “overly burdensome restrictions upon their return.” The Government says that it will include a provision in the regulations to say that residents should be encouraged to take visits out of their care home to support their wellbeing.
The Government states that CQC regulations will be amended to make visiting a new fundamental standard “as soon as possible.” An impact assessment will also be published shortly.
The response can be read in full here.
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