Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the evidential basis is for the Government's guidance on family visits to hospital patients who are seriously ill as a result of covid-19.

The coordination of writing the hospital visitors guidance was undertaken by NHS England and NHS Improvement’s clinical cell supported extensively by the National Clinical Director and Head of Nursing for End of Life Care.

The development of the guidance was overseen by a multidisciplinary group including colleagues from the following teams in NHS England and NHS Improvement: children and young people (including the National Clinical Director); mental health; learning disability and autism; maternity; patient and public involvement; and end of life.

The latest guidance, published 13 October 2020, is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/03/C0751-visiting-healthcare-inpatient-settings-principles-131020_.pdf