On Tuesday in Parliament I joined MPs from across the House to meet families who were prevented from seeing their loved ones, many with dementia, in care home and hospital settings by restrictions on loved ones caring during and after Covid-19, and to discuss the Care Supporters Bill, known as “Gloria’s Law”. These included my constituent Jenny Morrison who co-founded the Rights For Residents Campaign.

The Ten-Minute Rule Bill would give a person needing care and support a legal right to unrestricted in-person support from at least one essential ‘care supporter’. There would be a duty on the health and care system, including providers, to facilitate this contact wherever they are receiving care.

I then joined colleagues in the Chamber to support the Bill, brought by Dan Carden MP, which is important in ensuring that no-one else has to endure what many care home residents, denied visits from loved ones, did during the pandemic. Too many died alone, with some even denied the chance to say goodbye to their relatives or loved ones. This Bill would help to stop this happening again, however there are no more Private Members Bill Fridays until after the King’s speech in October.