Families Celebrate Milestone as Care Home Contact Rights Pass

Holyrood has passed new regulations, known as Anne's Law, which enshrine the rights of care home residents to have contact with their loved ones. This landmark legislation was unanimously approved by Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs).

The new rules mandate that care homes must facilitate visits. Contact can only be suspended if it is deemed essential to prevent a serious risk to life. However, even in such severe circumstances, residents nearing the end of life or those for whom isolation would cause greater harm must still be allowed visits.

Anne's Law, named after dementia sufferer Anne Duke, designates a resident's most important visitors as essential care supporters within their personal care plans. The regulations establish a legal presumption that suspending these visits is likely to significantly impact a resident's health and wellbeing.

Supporters of the law, including Cathie Russell of Care Home Relatives Scotland, hailed it as a milestone, emphasizing that those closest to residents are not merely visitors but essential care supporters. Social care minister Tom Arthur stressed the importance of social connections for residents' quality of life and stated the law recognizes the vital role families and friends play.

Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care, also welcomed the legislation, calling it a vital human rights milestone that recognizes the profound importance of relationships, autonomy, and emotional wellbeing in care. The Scottish Government collaborated with Anne Duke's daughter, Natasha Hamilton, whose petition highlighted the issue.