Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care
Enact law for visiting rights for designated relatives of care home residents
Closed
1,785 signatures
What the petition asks
To enshrine in law the right for a designated relative or close friend of every care home resident to be able to visit without physical barrier. The government have recently issued guidance, but it is clear that many local authorities are not following this guidance and still preventing visiting.
Thousands of residents of care homes and nursing homes in the UK suffer with a range of life-limiting conditions including dementia.
Previous solutions of "through the window" visits or garden visits do not work for people with severe conditions who are often bed bound, have very limited mental capacity or have lost hearing or sight. Cyber solutions do not work for these patients either.
It should be a basic right to comfort these people by touch and speech in a safe way.
Previous solutions of "through the window" visits or garden visits do not work for people with severe conditions who are often bed bound, have very limited mental capacity or have lost hearing or sight. Cyber solutions do not work for these patients either.
It should be a basic right to comfort these people by touch and speech in a safe way.
Timeline
| 22 Dec 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Jun 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
1,785
Status
Closed
Department
Department of Health and Social Care
Opened
22 Dec 2020
Closed
22 Jun 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.