The government accepts this recommendation. The NHS is committed to developing and publishing new protocols for infection prevention and control in pandemics covering staffing, bed capacity and physical infrastructure. NHS England and NHS Improvement published COVID-19: People with a learning disability, autism or both in hospital5 in December 2020, which sets out practical steps that hospitals should take to ensure people with learning disabilities, autism or both, receive safe, effective, personalised care. The importance of allowing people with learning disabilities to be accompanied by family members, carers, or advocates in hospital is emphasised in this guidance. A summary of key actions to support care is included, such as: ● Hospitals should ensure that arrangements are in place to enable essential carers to accompany people with a learning disability, autism or both, to support communication and provide reassurance. ● Trusts should ensure that flexible visiting policies are in place for people with a learning disability, autism or both, and that these are communicated to families and carers. In terms of birthing partners, NHS England and NHS Improvement published guidance on this, setting out that: … restricting access to partners during labour is not supported. Women should be able to have a partner of their choice with them during all stages of their maternity journey. NHS England and NHS Improvement also published guidance to ensure that women could make informed choices about place of birth and to ensure access to pain relief, including epidurals, regardless of COVID-19 status. This guidance remains in place, reflecting that the NHS should always consider the importance of maintaining access for people accompanying some patients such as advocates for people with learning disabilities and birthing partners.