Relatives of care home residents have urged Holyrood candidates to back a campaign to have the right to visits enshrined in law.
Care Home Relatives Scotland wants Scottish Parliament hopefuls from all political parties to include a pledge to support Anne’s Law in their personal manifestos ahead of May’s vote.
Campaigners want to give residents the legal right to see at least one relative regardless of Covid-19 lockdown levels.
Natasha Hamilton, whose mother Anne Duke, 63, is in a care home, started a petition for the new law, which has been signed by almost 100,000 people.
Natasha, 33, of Currie, near Edinburgh, spent nearly a year separated from her mum, who is battling early onset dementia, due to the Covid pandemic.
She said: “We’re writing to all political candidates and all the different political parties to ask for Anne’s Law to be included in their party manifestos for the upcoming election.
“We want legislation so that this never happens again. We want to make sure Anne’s Law is put in place to protect the future.”
Cathie Russell, co-founder of Care Home Relatives Scotland, wants action.
She said: “We’re really keen that all the political parties address this issue.
“Long term, we feel it would be important for everyone to know that people can’t be cut off from their own husbands, wives or children for a year.
“We’re not suggesting when there’s an infection that care homes just open their doors but one person should be allowed in to act like a bridge between the resident and the family.”
In March last year the Scottish Government clamped down on visiting care homes in a bid to stop the spread of Covid. Families then spent a year without any meaningful contact with their loved ones.
Statistics revealed that 300 per week died while isolated. Under updated guidance, families were finally allowed to visit loved ones in care homes earlier this month.
Two specified relatives or friends are permitted to visit residents once a week, wearing PPE including face coverings.
Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: “We have repeatedly called for an immediate public inquiry into what occurred in our care homes to avoid these tragic mistakes ever happening again.
“These proposals for an Anne’s Law deserve serious consideration alongside working in conjunction with campaigning relatives.”
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “A carefully crafted new law to give rights to residents in care homes to see their families is something we’ll support and include in our manifesto.
“The trauma caused by the separation to those in their golden years has taken a great toll on their mental health.
“The Liberal Democrats support Anne’s Law.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Care Home Relatives Scotland is absolutely right to call for this action.”
Baillie, her party’s health and social care spokeswoman, added: “Too many people were separated from loved ones in care homes during the pandemic.
“This law would ensure that as caregivers they will always be given priority for access to vulnerable relatives.
“Safe visiting is possible with all proper infection control measures in place but too many people are being cruelly denied visits.
“Time is fast running out for thousands of residents and their families as restrictions continue.
“The Scottish Government must use emergency legislation to make Anne’s Law a reality now.”
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who has supported the campaign, vowed to bring forward a private member’s bill to make it law if she is re-elected.
She said: “Anne’s Law would make a difference to thousands across Scotland, and it means a lot to me.
“Anne Duke is my constituent and I pay tribute to her dedicated husband Campbell and daughter Natasha for their courage and dignified campaign.”
The SNP vowed to ensure Anne’s Law-type provisions are put in place so care home residents can see loved ones.
A spokesperson said: “If we’re re-elected as Scotland’s government, one of our first actions will be to formally begin the process of creating a national care service.
“That will include protecting the rights of residents and their family and friends to deliver Anne’s Law.
“Our national care service will be founded on a human rights approach. Too often when the national guidance clearly stated that visiting could take place with appropriate safety protocols, some operators ignored the guidance and stopped visiting.”
Scottish Greens health spokeswoman Alison Johnstone said: “The last year has been particularly hard for people in care homes and their families.
“Restrictions on visiting and funerals have carried a heavy human cost, even though they were designed to limit spread of the virus and protect the vulnerable.
“It’s clear to us that we need to overhaul social care to a new national care system that is based on human rights with strong local accountability.”
