To ask the Minister of Health how he will enable more visiting for patients in hospital with specific mental health needs, such as elderly people reliant on family for care.

The current guidance on visiting in Healthcare settings, “A Pathway to Enhanced Visiting” set out a graduated easement of the restrictions on visiting in various settings, with details on the assessment tools to be used to decide when to progress further in the planned easements.

The guidance strikes a balance between acceding to the public’s understandable desire to increase their ability to be with their loved ones while they are in various care settings and the need to be cautious and protect vulnerable people, and the wider public, from the potential spread of coronavirus.