National Care Service: questions and answers - engagement sessions

Anne's Law

Is there a plan to extend Anne's Law to hospital visiting?

• The Government is keen to ensure that people are able to see and be supported by their loved ones. Although not currently included within the legislation we await the committee's consideration of the Bill at stage 1 and will consider any recommendations made.

Why do we need to wait for the National Care Service for Anne's Law?

• As it is part of the National Care Service Bill, Anne's Law will follow the same parliamentary timetable. However, once the parliamentary stages are complete, Anne's Law can be implemented to a separate schedule and does not have to wait for the National Care Service to be established. We published new Health and Social Care Standards related to visiting, which are already putting the aims of Anne's Law into practice.

Does Anne's Law overrule any decision made by Public Health?

• Anne's Law will enable Scottish Ministers to issue visiting Directions. In recognition of the need to ensure that ministers act on the basis of the best available advice, when the Directions are prepared, Public Health Scotland and other relevant bodies will be consulted prior to the Directions being issued. Once Directions are issued then all parties will be required to follow them.