Families could get legal right to visit their older relatives

FAMILY members would be given the legal right to visit elderly relatives living in care homes under proposed emergency legislation.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman has asked for legal advice on whether care homes can be forced to allow visits. If she goes ahead with the move, indoor visiting could resume when current Level 4 regulations are relaxed.

Until the restrictions were introduced in mainland Scotland on Saturday, care homes in Level 3 allowed indoor visits for one person once a week. But Miss Freeman revealed earlier this month that indoor visits are taking place in only 40 per cent of care homes.

At a meeting with Miss Freeman on

‘We will continue to explore all options’

Christmas Eve, opposition politicians demanded an emergency ‘essential care giver’ law similar to legislation in Ontario, Canada. It would give designated family members a legal right to access care homes by recognising their vital support role.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We will continue to explore all options. We understand the severe impact this pandemic has had on people’s lives.’

Scottish Labour health spokesman Monica Lennon said: ‘When we see some care homes continuing to struggle with staffing and basic standards, it makes no sense to lock out husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandchildren and friends who could be assisting with nutrition, personal care or providing much needed companionship.’