21/05/2024: Coverage of select committee proceedings on Tuesday 21 May.. Live Health and Social Care Committee airs on BBC Parliament at 10:00 AM, Tuesday 21 May. Coverage of select committee proceedings on Tuesday 21 May.
Miles Sibley and colleagues argue that families must be recognised and valued as partners in patient care
### Key messages
Covid-19 brought radical shifts in healthcare policies and practice, including the abandonment of families as partners in care. This happened in multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, and the UK, which are all high income countries with mixed public and private healthcare as well as being our home countries.
In response to covid-19, England, introduced blanket bans on visiting hospitals and care homes a practice that was subsequently condemned in parliament.1 In maternity services, the presence of birth partners was restricted, leading to a deterioration in women’s experiences of care.2 Strict visitor restrictions in Canada did not differentiate between visitors and essential care partners, and caregivers were prevented from providing supportive care to their family members in health and care facilities.3 Australia saw immediate visitor bans and, lat