OFFICIAL: Visiting Legislation for Health & Social Care

Dear Providers,

In December 2023, legislation was introduced to make visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices a new fundamental standard of care, and monitored by Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Visiting is crucial to the health and wellbeing of those receiving care as it ensures that people remain connected with loved ones and their community, and have people to support and advocate for them when they are at their most vulnerable. We know that the vast majority of health and care providers recognise this and have made considerable efforts to get back to normal on visiting. However, there are reports that some people continue to face restrictions when trying to visit or accompany loved ones in health and care settings.

The legislation will come into force on 6 April 2024, so we would like to invite you to attend a virtual information session to find out more about what the legislation requires you to do as a provider and to ask any questions you might have about the guidance.

 DHSC and CQC colleagues will be running the following sessions:

• 19 March and 3 April for care home providers

• 25 March and 2 April for hospital providers

• 27 March for hospice providers

Please use this registration form to sign up for a session. The Teams invite will be sent to you a few days before the session.

For any queries, please contact the team on visiting@dhsc.gov.uk