Yesterday, I met with families with relatives in care homes who had been locked out by the pandemic. Some of them have not seen their loved ones in almost a year. 

We all know that our loved ones need protecting against this awful virus. But it is hard to see why, with proper PPE and regular testing, that families can’t have the same access to care homes as staff. Families are key to supporting the mental and physical health of loved ones, and changing the Government’s default position to a right to family visits would recognise this.

The legislation has already been drafted – it just needs to be agreed. Other countries are leading the way on this issue, and Ministers here should now follow their lead. All families must be brought back together again.

Read about the event in the Daily Mail and the Mirror.