COVID-M3.2 Response No Published Response Self-assessed

Visiting Restrictions Guidance

Recommendation

The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive should publish guidance for the implementation of visiting restrictions in hospitals in the event of a future pandemic. The guidance should identify the circumstances in which visiting restrictions should be introduced, escalated, decreased and removed alongside the measures and exemptions at each level. The guidance should be led by the following core principles: 1. Measures applied should be the least restrictive possible, both in terms of severity and the length of time for which they apply. 2. Restrictions should be decided upon and applied at the most local level possible. 3. Unless restrictions are applied at a specified level, trusts and health boards should take decisions on the severity of restrictions based on local risk assessments. 4. Communications with the public must clearly explain the measures in place and the reasons why restrictions apply. The guidance should be reviewed every three years in line with the Inquiry's Module 1 Report (Recommendation 4).

Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Response
No Published Response
No Published Response Scottish Government Initial Response
19 Mar 2026

No formal response published by this government.

No Published Response Welsh Government Follow-up
19 Mar 2026

No formal response published by this government.

No Published Response Northern Ireland Executive Follow-up
19 Mar 2026

No formal response published by this government.

Progress Timeline
Official Report
19 Mar 2026

Status: Pending. No government response yet received. Module 3 report published 19 March 2026.

Source
Report Module 3: Impact on Healthcare Systems 19 Mar 2026
Responsible Bodies
Department of Health and Social Care Primary
Last formal update 19 Mar 2026