Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that people can visit relatives in hospitals in England.

We recognise the contribution that visiting makes to the wellbeing of patients. The Government and NHS England are clear that providers are expected and encouraged to facilitate visits wherever possible, and to do so in a way which manages the risks. Visiting policies are ordinarily at the discretion of local NHS Trusts and other NHS bodies, based on national principles, who will make their own assessment as to the visiting arrangements that can be in place given local prevalence of COVID-19 and the specific setup of their facilities. The national guidance encourages providers to actively find ways to ensure visiting can take place.