Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to make guidance available on visiting rights during the covid-19 outbreak for people detained under the Mental Health Act.
Guidance on ‘Visiting healthcare inpatient settings during the COVID pandemic: principles’ was published on 13 October 2020, and is available at the following link:
The guidance focuses on ensuring infection control and making sure that patients can access the therapeutic support and visits they need during the pandemic, including for people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. This guidance also advises on the number of visitors permitted under social distancing rules.