The Government has announced new plans to better protect loves ones’ visits to care homes, hospices, and hospitals, making visits part of a fundamental standard of care on par with access to properly qualified staff. The Care Quality Commission will have a clear mandate to check that care providers are fulfilling these obligations, so those in care can maintain strong connections with family and friends. Having visited so many settings locally over the years, I’m keenly aware of just how important such visits are for the wellbeing of those in healthcare settings, and so I’m very pleased to see steps to protect them being put into action.