MPs from across the political spectrum gathered in Westminster Hall this week to debate Gloria’s Law, calling for a legal right to Care Supporters that would guarantee family members and advocates access to their loved ones in care settings.
The debate, brought forward by Dan Carden MP, highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by families trying to support relatives in residential and nursing homes, despite the introduction of Care Quality Commission Regulation 9a earlier this year.
Carden explained that while Regulation 9a was designed to protect visiting rights, it has proven insufficient in practice. “Evidence from advice lines shows care providers are aware of the regulation but simply not adhering to it,” he told the chamber. “As people cannot enforce it in law, 9a is not offering the protection needed for something as vital as the support of trusted loved ones.”
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for care and carers, Alison Bennett, emphasised the limitations of current protections. She noted that while the regulation aims to ensure care providers do not discourage visits and that people can attend medical appointments with family support, “it falls short of what is needed.”
Bennett highlighted key weaknesses in the current system: “Regulation 9a relies on enforcement by the CQC, an organisation that is well stretched thin and faces a number of challenges. The CQC cannot prosecute providers for breaches of this and often lacks the resources for swift and consistent enforcement. Most importantly, this regulation does not create an enforceable right held by the individual resident themselves.”
The debate featured powerful personal testimony from Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care Dr Caroline Johnson, who shared her own experience of identifying a medical emergency during a family visit. She described arriving to find a relative who “looked grey, pale and unwell” and was indeed in shock requiring urgent fluid resuscitation.
“Relatives know the person they’re seeing the best, and they’re able to identify changes in condition which may go unnoticed by staff,” Johnson explained. “What if that had not happened at the start of visiting time? I shudder to think.”
Liz Saville-Roberts MP, who has been part of the cross-party campaign in previous parliamentary sessions, spoke about the particular importance of family contact for people living with dementia. She criticised the tendency to treat “social needs for love and family contact” as “a luxury, a nice to have, but ultimately expendable” when institutions face pressure.
The debate was organised as part of the ongoing campaign by Care Rights UK, working alongside John’s Campaign and Rights for Residents. Helen Wildbore, director of Care Rights UK, welcomed the parliamentary support but emphasised the urgent need for action.
“Every day our adviceline hears from people who face barriers to supporting their loved ones in care – through visiting restrictions, closed cultures and more,” Wildbore said.
“We urge the Government to fulfil their manifesto commitment and bring forward a new legal right to a Care Supporter.”
The campaign argues that Gloria’s Law would ensure no one is isolated when they need support most, providing legal protection for the fundamental right to maintain contact with loved ones during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.
Speaking after the debate, Dan Carden MP concluded: “Today’s debate showed just how urgently we need to protect the right to maintain contact in law. Connection with loved ones is not an optional extra – it is essential to dignified care. A legal right to at least one Care Supporter would give people the protection and dignity they deserve.”
The campaign for Gloria’s Law continues to build momentum across the political spectrum, with supporters arguing that current regulations are insufficient to protect one of the most basic human needs – the right to have trusted loved ones present during times of vulnerability and need.
