Media coverage
We’re putting care rights on the national news agenda
15 May 2024, Care Home Management magazine
The need for change following the COVID pandemic
Two bereaved relatives share their thoughts on the pandemic and the change needed in care.
Writing in our regular column in Care Home Management magazine, Jane and Nicola reflect on their experiences in their mothers’ care homes during the pandemic. They also share their thoughts on what learning is needed from the pandemic, to bring about change in care settings:
“We’re not lawyers and we’re not doctors, we speak from separate care home experiences and a continued sense of loss and grief. We hope that through sharing our lived experiences lessons are learnt and we can support much needed change in the care sector, something that will impact on everyone’s life at some point.”
2 May 2024, Care Talk magazine
The role of families in promoting wellbeing in care
Tips for care services on recognising the vital role relatives play.
Writing in Care Talk magazine, we share our thoughts and insights on how services can work with family and friends to help them promote the wellbeing of people living in care - and improve the culture of care homes!
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, wrote:
“Promoting wellbeing and ensuring person-centred care is all about treating people as individuals. Relatives and friends can play a vital and helpful role – after all, this is about the person they love.”
8 April 2024, Daily Express
Care home crisis putting Britain to shame
We have never seen the care sector in such a bad state.
Figures show 1 in 5 care homes is providing sub-standard care. We spoke to the Express about the terrible impact this is having on the lives of older and disabled people who are battling to get their basic needs met.
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, told the Express:
“With services so stretched and the sector on its knees, people need their regulator to urgently act on poor care, to ensure everyone needing support is treated with dignity and respect.”
23 March 2024, Mirror
Labour leader backs campaign for Gloria’s Law
Keir Starmer vowed to end the scandal of care home residents dying alone as he faced questions from readers.
Jane Wier-Wierzbowska and Nicola Gregson took the opportunity of readers questions to press the Labour leader on his support for Gloria’s Law. In response Keir Starmer said he supports calls “for a legal right for care home residents to have visits from their loved ones”. He thanked “the tireless campaigners who have continued to fight on this issue week-in week-out”.
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, told the Mirror:
“We urge the Labour Party to commit to this crucial new law in their manifesto – any one of us could need it, at any time.”
March 2024, Care Home Management
The Resident’s Voice: Power of Attorney
In the latest instalment of our regular column, a sister shares her experiences as Power of Attorney.
When Alka was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, she appointed her sister as her attorney. But as she neared the end of her life, Alka’s sister found herself blocked from engaging in care decisions.
Writing in Care Home Management magazine, her sister says:
“Even as her attorney I was ignored…and made to feel like I was the problem.”
21 February 2024, Care Management Matters
The UK COVID-19 Inquiry: lessons must be learnt
As political leaders give evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, we reflect on what we’ve heard and highlight what lessons must be learnt.
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, writes in Care Management Matters magazine:
“The impact of the pandemic on the care sector has been catastrophic. Far too many lives were lost. Too many died alone. Relationships were destroyed. Untold suffering was caused to people living in care, their families and friends. It is imperative that lessons are learnt, and questions answered about the most sustained attack on the rights of people in care we have ever seen. People living and working in care deserve answers.”
24 January 2024, The Guardian
English language rules for care workers
The Home Office rejects calls from a coroner to tighten English language rules for foreign care workers, following the death of a care home resident after staff were unable to explain her critical state to 999 operators.
Rights For Residents Campaign Manager at Care Rights UK, Diane Mayhew, told the Guardian:
“It is beyond comprehension that the Home Office minister does not believe that raising the level of the English language requirement for skilled workers would be appropriate.”
3 January 2024, Care Home Management
Care Home Management column: the impact of care home evictions
In our regular column, The Residents Voice, Caroline Walton shares the story of her mother’s eviction from her care home.
Caroline’s mother, Catherine, was 92 when she was given just one month’s notice to leave her home. Catherine described the impact of the news:
“We left the room in silence, at first unable even to speak to each other, but creeping away like wounded animals to deal with our shock and pain. I was in shock for weeks, not sleeping, feeling unsteady and as if a pit had opened at my feet. My friends are scattered and my feeling of security gone. I still cannot absorb the fact that such an action against us was allowed to happen.”
8 December 2023, Caring Times
Former Prime Minister gives evidence to COVID-19 Inquiry
Boris Johnson told the public inquiry he denied wanting to ‘let Covid rip’.
Responding to the evidence session, director of Care Rights UK, Helen Wildbore, told Caring Times:
“Watching Boris Johnson trying to defend his government’s mismanagement of the pandemic will have added to the distress, anger and pain of people living in care and their families, who have already suffered so much.
“Brushing off despicable comments about older people as ‘speaking bluntly’ and ‘unpolished’. Justifying Downing Street parties as staff were working ‘extremely hard’, whilst people were dying alone in care settings. The sessions exposed the former prime minister’s lack of understanding of the devastating harm and irreparable damage caused to people in care and their families.”
30 November 2023, Caring Times
New law seeks to enshrine care home visiting rights
Lord Hunt introduces a Bill to enshrine a new right for people living in care to have the support of loved ones.
We have been campaigning for this new legal right for over three years. Rights For Residents Campaign Manager at Care Rights UK, Diane Mayhew, told Caring Times:
“It is clear from the Covid Inquiry that government cannot be trusted to ensure the human rights of those in health and care settings are protected. Every one of us should be able to nominate a close relative or friend who can be with us in all circumstances, regardless of future lock downs, pandemics or a national crisis.”
15 November 2023, Care Home Management
Care Home Management column: Frances and Linda call for Gloria’s Law
In our regular column, The Residents Voice, Frances and Linda share their experiences of care home life.
Frances, 102 years old, and her daughter Linda have been vocal supporters of our Rights For Residents campaign. Sharing their reflections on Frances feeling like a prisoner during the pandemic, they make a powerful plea for Gloria’s Law:
“People in care homes must never again be denied contact with their families.”
11 September 2023, Guardian
‘Campaigners back Kate Garraway over Derek Draper’s essential care needs’
TV presenter Kate Garraway has revealed she is “battling the system” to secure essential care for her severely ill husband, Derek Draper.
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, said that the family’s experience was “all too familiar” as our helpline receives daily calls from families “struggling to get the care they need to live with dignity”. She told the Guardian:
“We hear about problems with assessments, delays and inappropriate care packages putting people’s rights at risk. This is also placing a huge strain on families who are expected to fill the gaps in support. This must change. We must create a care system where people’s basic rights are respected.”
9 September 2023, Care Home Management
New column in Care Home Management: residents have their say
We have a new, regular column in Care Home Management magazine, for residents and families to have their say.
Jenny Morrison, our Engagement Lead, wrote the first instalment. Jenny reflected on how, all too often, people living in care don’t get their needs met or their rights protected:
“We rarely hear their voices. Yet the families we support, and those in the industry we work with, are desperate to affect change. So, we’re delighted to launch this new regular column in Care Home Management to share the insights of residents and their families, and their thoughts on how to improve care services.”
31 July 2023, Express
‘Fears for vulnerable people as 2,600 care homes officially ranked as failing’
Around 1 in 5 care homes are rated as ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’ according to figures from the regulator, the Care Quality Commission.
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, feared the figures are not a true reflection of what’s happening in care services, due to the reported drop in inspections CQC is carrying out. She told the Express:
“Even one in five care homes being below standard is completely unacceptable. These are similar to the figures before the pandemic, which begs the question why is the regulator allowing this deplorable situation to continue? Every day we hear how poor care is ruining people’s lives. The regulator must step up and protect people from the harm of substandard care.”
29 June 2023, BBC
Eviction from care homes
BBC Look North reported on the eviction of Yvonne Williamson, mother of Rights For Residents campaigner, Penny Hutchinson.
Penny explained that the eviction notice followed the care home having to raise safeguarding alerts about her mother’s care. The BBC report featured an interview with our director, Helen Wildbore, who said:
“Every day on our helpline we hear from people too afraid to raise concerns about poor care due to fear of reprisals like eviction.”
Watch the report on our YouTube channel
27 June 2023, Care Talk
Ensuring a voice for residents and families
Our Rights For Residents Campaign Manager, Diane Mayhew, wrote a thought leadership article for Care Talk on collaborative care.
Writing on the importance of involving residents and their families in care, Diane said:
“Providers must ensure that those who draw on services and their families have a voice and remain at the centre of their loved one’s care. Residents should be supported to be in control of their care plan, something we experienced little of during the pandemic.”
Read the full article
27 June 2023, Express
‘Family’s fury as gran with dementia is evicted from care home’
The Daily Express covered the eviction of Yvonne Williamson, mother of Rights For Residents campaigner, Penny.
We had been supporting Penny to challenge the eviction, which experts said was not in her mother’s best interests. The article featured a comment from our Engagement Lead, Jenny Morrison, who said:
“The power to decide seems to reside with the care provider. This indicates a dangerous power imbalance.”
Read the full article
22 June 2023, ITV Tonight
‘Elderly & Evicted: Our Care Home Crisis?’
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, featured alongside some of our members in an ITV Tonight documentary about evictions from care homes.
The documentary covered heart-breaking stories from our members who have faced eviction after raising complaints about poor care, or their care home has been closed down.
22 June 2023, Care Management Matters
‘Flying the Flag: Meet the care campaigning organisations working hard to protect the rights of people’
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, was asked to give her reflections on social care for the 20th anniversary edition of Care Management Matters magazine.
“My colleagues running our helpline have worked as advisers on social care for almost 20 years and they have never seen the sector in such a poor state.”
Read the article on CMM’s website
21 June 2023, Express
Visiting consultation launched
Our Rights For Residents Campaign Manager, Diane Mayhew, talks to the Express about the Government’s consultation on visiting in health and care settings.
The Government is consulting on plans to make visiting a ‘fundamental standard’ the regulator would ensure all health and care settings abide by.
Diane urged Ministers to speed up the progress of the Care Supporter Bill, which would give people a legal right to a family carer in all circumstances, very different to a ‘visitor’.
8 June 2023, Channel 5
Volunteer army for social care
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, talks to Storm Huntley on Channel 5 about Ministers’ plans to recruit a ‘volunteer army’ for social care.
With the social care sector stretched to breaking point, Helen shared the impact this is having on people relying on care services:
“Colleagues running our helpline have worked as advisors for 20 years and have never seen it so bad.”
Watch the interview on our YouTube channel.
7 June 2023, The Guardian
Ministers seek volunteer social care army to speed up hospital discharges
The Guardian reports on Government plans to recruit a new ‘volunteer army’ for social care to assist with tasks in a bid to free up congested hospital wards.
Care Rights UK director, Helen Wildbore, was quoted saying this “feels like a desperate measure to try and save a system that is crumbling”. She added, volunteers would be “just a drop in the ocean in terms of the crisis that has been caused by years of under funding”.
6 June 2023, BBC North West Tonight
Right to maintain contact in health and care settings
The BBC covered our event in Parliament on 6 June and the Ten Minute Rule Bill which will bring in Gloria’s Law.
Diane Mayhew and Jenny Morrison were interviewed about our Rights For Residents campaign and why we’re calling for Gloria’s Law
Watch the interview on our YouTube channel.
3-6 June 2023, various radio stations
Right to maintain contact in health and care settings
Ahead of our event in Parliament on 6 June, our Rights For Residents Campaign Manager, Diane Mayhew, hit the airwaves to talk about why we’re calling for Gloria’s Law.
Listen to Diane’s interviews on our YouTube channel:
5 June 2023, The Express
Care Rights UK will push for new laws to hand legal rights to families
The article describes how ‘the UK’s newest charity’ will meet face-to-face with ministers and MPs in Parliament to discuss hospital and care home visiting rights as it campaigns for Gloria’s Law, the new legal right to a Care Supporter.
Chief Reporter Giles Sheldrick writes:
‘Chair Trish Davies said the charity will “campaign vigorously” for support and high-quality services. Campaigners – high-profile charities representing the interests of the elderly, sick and vulnerable, celebrities such as Ruthie and Kirstie Allsopp, and MPs – have been left aghast at inaction after families described the impact of being denied the right to see a loved one.’
3 June 2023, The Times
Law change will force hospitals and care homes to allow visitors
(Pay wall)
Eleanor Hayward, Health Correspondent for The Times reports on the introduction of a Bill to bring in Gloria’s Law - a huge step forward in our Rights For Residents campaign.
The Bill is being introduced to Parliament next week by Dan Carden MP and would grant a right to a Care Supporter - a relative or friend to support in health and care settings. The call has the support of MPs, over 70 organisations and celebrities including Stephen Fry and Ruthie Henshall, the West End Actress whose mother, Gloria, died after spending a year alone in a care home during lockdown.
Diane Mayhew, the Rights For Residents Campaign Manager at Care Rights UK, said many people remained “locked out of their loved one’s care” nearly two years after Covid lockdown restrictions ended in Britain: “An essential care supporter can be welcome on one ward and denied on another, even in the same hospital,” she said.
30 May 2023, i paper
Row over COVID-19 public inquiry reignites pain of bereaved relatives
Two news stories on the public inquiry featured input from Care Rights UK.
The row over the inquiry having undisclosed access to former the Prime Minister’s WhatsApp messages has reignited the pain of relatives who lost loved ones during the pandemic, said Diane Mayhew, our Campaign Manager. Diane’s father died during the first lockdown and she said:
“The heartache never goes away and each time disclosures are made that contain disturbing evidence that lock down rules were blatantly ignored, the injustice inevitably reignites their pain.”
In a separate story, our director, Helen Wildbore, reacted to the news that social care would not be examined by the inquiry until the end of 2023:
“Social care should have been top of the list for examination so that vital lessons can be implemented urgently, before it is too late for too many more people. This will be a devastating blow to families so desperate for answers.”
15 May 2023
‘Revenge evictions’ in care
Our director appeared on BBC Radio 4 You and Yours to discuss people being evicted from care homes after raising concerns about poor care.
Helen Wildbore explained how our helpline hears from people in the most desperate of situations, who are experiencing poor care but facing eviction for raising their concerns. They should be able to rely on the regulator - the Care Quality Commission - for support, but too often this isn’t the case.
Helen called on the regulator to take urgent action against inappropriate evictions.
23 April 2023, The Observer
Care homes using ‘revenge evictions’ to stifle complaints
New research by King’s College London, supported by Care Rights UK, has revealed the harmful impact of evictions from care homes.
The research was covered on the front page of the Observer and carried a quote from our director, Helen Wildbore:
“Every day our helpline hears from people afraid to speak out about poor care due to fear of reprisals, including eviction. The power imbalance in care is so vast and there is nowhere for people to turn when being threatened with an eviction or given notice to leave.
“There must be a central complaints procedure to protect people from reprisals and, as the regulator, the CQC must monitor and act upon inappropriate evictions. Urgent change is needed to ensure families are not facing these battles alone.”
12 April 2023
Ruthie Henshall speaks to Loose Women
Ruthie described her mum’s experience of isolation both during and after lockdown:
‘24/7 in a room on her own, even when it had opened up for everybody else in society. I’m fighting for this Gloria’s Law still. What people don’t realise that the care homes have got all the power. It will be us at some point.’
… ‘This Law would mean you are entitled to one Essential Caregiver in every situation.’
12 April 2023, The Guardian
Ruthie Henshall: ‘While MPs were drinking and snogging, I was waving at Mum through a care home window.’
… That first time Henshall was shocked at the state of her mum. “In three months she had lost so much weight. She was in a chair all day; some days they didn’t have the staff to even get her out of bed. She’d lost the ability to chew so they had to thicken her drinks and mush her food. She had stopped walking and she had stopped talking. It just wasn’t Mum.”
She puts Gloria’s decline down to a lack of contact, lack of conversation, lack of love. Of course these were extraordinary times: Covid was ripping through the place, there were no tests, vaccines were a long way off, 13 residents died in the first two months, the fabric of care was being stretched to breaking point. Henshall understood the carers had to try to keep their charges safe. But it wasn’t doing her mum any good. “For someone with dementia, we are their eyes and their ears, their voice, their memories.” …
24 March 2023, The Guardian
English councils paying huge sums to ‘inadequate’ care homes
An investigation has found that £480m of taxpayer’s money was spent on poor quality private care homes in four years.
The story ran on the front page of the Guardian and carried a quote from R&RA’s director, Helen Wildbore, about the payments “propping up substandard care” and “failing the taxpayer”.
Helen said:
“The system is failing the people it exists to support, putting their dignity and safety at risk. It is failing their families who face an uphill battle to ensure basic needs are met. It is failing the workers, expected to provide care without adequate training. We demand a better system – tomorrow any one of us could need it.”
20 March 2023, The Mirror
Families call for Gloria’s Law
Actress Ruthie Henshall joins families in saying ‘never again’ to harmful isolation and calls for Gloria’s Law to be enacted urgently.
The story ran on the front page of the Mirror, with a two-page spread inside featuring photos from families who had lost loved ones during the pandemic. The photos were excerpts from our video to commemorate the lives lost as we approach the third anniversary of lockdown.
Ruthie said:
“It was the cruellest thing I have ever seen - to watch my mother dying through a window and her not even being able to have a family member touch her…If we can get Gloria’s law passed it means they didn’t die in vain.”
Add you voice to our call for Gloria’s Law - a right to the support of a relative or friend in health and care settings. Pledge your support today.
9 March 2023, Caring Times
R&RA and Rights For Residents join forces
The news of R&RA and Rights For Residents joining forces hit the headlines, with coverage in Caring Times and Care Home Professional.
The stories featured quotes from Diane Mayhew, co-founder of Rights For Residents, and Helen Wildbore, director of R&RA.
Diane said:
“We’re excited to unite with the Relatives & Residents Association to become a powerful voice of those in care.”
Helen added:
“We are excited to be coming together as a united voice to fight for care rights. With the care sector on its knees, now is the time for people needing care and their families to be heard and to change the care system for good. Care must be recognised as vital to the health of the country, with the rights of people at its heart.”
8 March 2023, The Guardian
CQC accused of failing to keep care homes safe
The care regulator for England, the Care Quality Commission, has been accused of failing to keep care home residents safe after a family allege a delay in exposing serious risks led to their relative’s premature death.
The story in the Guardian featured a quote from R&RA director, Helen Wildbore:
“The CQC are absolutely failing to keep residents safe. They are failing the people they are supposed to protect. When we suggest people report poor care to the CQC, we often find they don’t want to because they have had a bad experience previously. There is such a lack of trust in the regulator.”
She added, families who complain to the CQC too often receive no response or find the CQC gives too much weight to care homes’ business interests.
17 January 2023, The Guardian
Eye watering payouts for owner of care home group despite safety concerns
A multimillionaire dementia home boss paid himself at least £21m in five years despite inspectors finding multiple breaches of staffing, safety and leadership rules
The story on the front page of the Guardian featured a quote from R&RA director, Helen Wildbore:
“There will, rightly, be anger from residents and their families at these eye-watering payouts whilst they are suffering the impact of such poor care.
“Supporting people affected by dementia should be an honour and a privilege, not a way to make millions. This highlights the sad reality of care as a commodity, where owners have very little accountability to those they should be serving.”
29 December 2022, The Guardian
Dementia patients in England facing national crisis in care safety
Exclusive: Nearly one in 10 care homes that offer dementia support reported on by inspectors in 2022 were given worst rating.
Families of people with dementia have said there is a national crisis in care safety as it emerged that more than half of residential homes reported on by inspectors this year were rated “inadequate” or requiring improvement – up from less than a third pre-pandemic.
[…]
“This national crisis is happening behind closed doors but in plain view of those with the power and duty to protect the rights of people placed in the most vulnerable of positions who often cannot speak up for themselves,” said Helen Wildbore, the director of RRA.
[…]
“Families tell us they feel bereft,” said Wildbore. “They are left to fight an uphill battle against poor care which cannot improve without proper investment and reform, even to ensure all staff have the skills to communicate with people living with dementia.”
She fears the problems may be “the tip of the iceberg” with less than half the number of inspections taking place in 2022 than in 2019.
23 August 2022, The Guardian
Staffing crisis leaves many English care home residents’ basic needs unmet
Vulnerable people left alone in rooms for 24 hours a day and denied showers for a week as number of vacancies grows to 165,000.
Thousands of vulnerable people are suffering inadequate care as severe staffing shortages in previously good care homes push operators to break rules and put residents at risk.
[…]
“Older people are paying a heavy price for these failings, as poor care robs them of their dignity, breaks their will and makes them feel unsafe in their own home,” said Helen Wildbore, director of the Relatives and Residents Association. “Older people need much more than empty slogans from the next prime minister about ‘fixing social care’.”
November 12 2022, The Times
Care homes told to stop shutting out loved ones
Residents could get legal right to have visitors.
Care homes and hospitals will be forced to allow visitors under plans being drawn up by the government.
[Paywall]
More coverage of our work
Complained about neglect in a care home and faced a visiting ban? This is the new normal
Comment article in Guardian (Dec 2022)
Fears for safety of care residents as toll of homes awaiting inspection surges to 6,000
Comment article in Express (July 2022)
Retirees shun care homes over high fees and isolation
Comment article in Express (May 2022)
Boris Johnson’s claim to have reformed social care denounced as ‘one final insult’
Independent news story on PM speech. The headline carried our quote.
Relatives tell MPs of ‘soul-destroying’ separation from loved ones in care
Independent coverage of our event in Parliament, with photos (March 2022)
Christmas isolation fears for Great-Gran, 100, and her family
Express article and comment by us (Dec 2021), covering Linda and Frances’ story.
Call for UK law securing right to care home visits for essential carers
Guardian article covering one of our helpline clients (Brendan, from May 2021)
Care homes ignore lifting of Covid curbs and shut out visitors
Times article quoting us and a helpline client (Oct 2022) [Paywall]
A balancing act: working with local health teams to facilitate care home visits
Care Management Matters article in magazine (Nov 2022)
