Banning relatives from visiting their loved ones inside care homes could become illegal in the UK, it has been reported.
As part of the third national lockdown to help prevent the spread of coronavirus visiting relatives inside care homes in England is controlled, with inside visits all but banned.
Under current guidance all care homes, except in the event of an active outbreak, should seek to allow for outdoor visiting and 'screened' visits.
Visits in 'exceptional circumstances' including when at the end of life are also permitted.
Now, new legislation has reportedly been drafted in a bid to allow families the right to receive visits again.
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The Daily Mail reports that the proposal will be presented to Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday.
Reportedly, the new legislation will give all residents of care homes the right to receive visits from a close relative or friend.
Harriet Harman, chairman of the Commons joint committee on human rights, said that outright visiting bans are a breach of the Human Rights Act.
She is reported to have said: 'We have drafted a complete set of regulations which mean a close relative is treated the same as someone who works in the home.
"A relative is part of the care team and the care home must allow a visit by this person significant to the service user.
"Everybody has a right to a family life. That's one of the basic human rights. You don't stop having a right to family life just because you live in residential care, in fact family can be even more important."
Meanwhile, the Government says it reached a “crucial milestone” this week after offering almost all care home residents a first jab by the end of January.
But Ministers were warned there was a “big, big task” to get thousands more care home workers the jab within the next two weeks.
