Former Coronation Street star urging MPs to relax care homes rules
A debate is taking place in parliament today about visiting care homes
Former Coronation Street star Leandra Ashton is asking the government to help people see their loved ones in care homes during this second lockdown.
Thousands of elderly people are still unable to see their families, even though the Government promised visits would still take place.
Strict rules, which include installing floor-to-ceiling screens, are stopping many homes from allowing visits altogether.
Leandra and her mum Ylenia Angeli have joined campaigners who are urging MPs to relax the rules on care home visits ahead of a debate in Parliament this afternoon (11th November).
Corrie star's mum handcuffed
Leandra and her mum decided to speak up after Ylenia ended up handcuffed in the back of a police car, after trying to take her mum out of a home near to Hull.
Leandra, her mum Ylenia Angeli and campaigner Tony Stowell spoke to Rebecca Quarmby from Cool FM sister station Viking FM:
Leandra and her mum are part of a group called Rights for Residents, which has been set up by Diane Mayhew and her partner Jenny Morrison.
Jenny's mum has dementia and she's only allowed to go and see her in an emergency. Jenny's gone as far as to say her mum has been "imprisoned" and has revealed she's stopped eating and drinking at mealtimes because she doesn't understand what's going on.
"When you go to the window for a visit, they just keep beckoning" Jenny says. "Come in, come in. It's really distressing. When a family member is like that, you just want to hold their hand."
Diane lost her father after he tested positive for coronavirus earlier this year. He was taken to hospital and she wasn't allowed to say goodbye.
"I will never get over it, ever" Diane admits. "It's hard enough when someone dies, but to not be able to say goodbye to them is horrific and this is multiplying across the whole of the UK."
They say thousands of families have been in touch with them through social media to share similar experiences.
Diane and Jenny want the Government to give families key worker status so they can access measures like rapid coronavirus tests.
Care minister Helen Whately says she knows the restrictions are "heart-breaking" for many families and that's why new guidance on visiting care homes has been set out by the Government:
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also confirmed that residents will be among those first in line for a coronavirus vaccine, and has told the NHS to prepare to start rolling it out nationwide.
He gave the update to MPs on Monday after promising results from a trial ran by Pfizer and BioNTech, who believe their jab is 90% effect against the Covid-19 virus.