Families of care home residents are hoping for restrictions on visiting to be eased “from next week” after a positive meeting with the health secretary.

The relatives took their concerns to government after they were unable to meet their relatives inside or were told hugging and hand-holding was not allowed.

Cathie Russell, who heads up the group, said the meeting had been “positive” and the families had been promised new guidance to enable more normal visiting.

The 500-strong group, which has come together under the umbrella of Care Home Relatives Scotland, held a protest at the Parliament last month.

They say hundreds of people are being prevented from visiting their loved ones in care homes because of the covid-19 pandemic, while others who are allowed short visits are prevented from touching or hugging.

Cathie Russell said health secretary Jeane Freeman had told the meeting that “from next week” homes that had been covid-19 free for 28 days and are taking part in regular staff testing could let nominated visitors see relatives in their rooms for up to four hours, without social distancing.

Ms Russell said relatives had also been promised new guidance would emphasise the importance of physical contact.

However the changes would not apply to areas where there are enhanced local restrictions due to outbreaks.

NHS Lanarkshire said yesterday that virus levels in the local area were still too high and re-introducing visiting would “substantially” increase the risk to care home residents.

Last week Jeane Freeman pledged to write to all care homes across Scotland to remind them that they could continue visits even under stricter social restrictions.

It followed a warning from Scottish Care chief executive Dr Donald Macaskill that lives could be lost from keeping older people from their loved ones “rather than to the disease itself”.

Cathie Russell said: “In summary, I would say we have made progress, but our group will need to get organised and work hard until best practice is in place in every care home in the country.

“We definitely feel this is a much more compassionate approach through this very difficult situation, but we will need to see how well it all goes in practice.”

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