Analysis of CQC Guideline 9A: Access Rules for Care Facilities such as Homes, Hospitals, and Hospices

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has initiated a review of Regulation 9A of The Health and Social Care Act 2008, focusing on visiting and accompanying rights in care homes, hospitals, and hospices in England. The review process was launched with a call for evidence, published on 28th May 2025, inviting input from individuals, professionals, organisations, and providers [1].

Introduced in April 2024, Regulation 9A mandates that care providers support individuals to receive visits in person from those they wish to see, unless exceptional circumstances arise. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides additional guidance, emphasising the importance of individual risk assessments and making visits easy to arrange, tailored to different care settings and individuals' needs [1].

### Sharing Your Views

The DHSC call for evidence is an opportunity for all relevant stakeholders to contribute to the review. This includes individuals, professionals, organisations, and providers who can participate by responding to the call for evidence. Contributions can be submitted via online surveys, written responses, or stakeholder engagement events (further details will be provided in the DHSC call for evidence documentation) [1].

### Oversight

The CQC, the independent regulator responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with Regulation 9A, will play a crucial role in this process. They oversee providers of health and social care in England, ensuring standards of care, including the facilitation of visits, are met. Their inspection reports and ratings are publicly available [1][2][3].

In summary, the review process for Regulation 9A is a government-led initiative, coordinated by DHSC, with oversight by CQC, and open for input from all relevant stakeholders to help shape the future regulatory environment for visits in care settings in England [1][2]. The review aims to assess if Regulation 9A, effective from April 6, 2024, has met its objective of ensuring visitors for people in care homes, hospitals, and hospices.

The call for evidence is still open for individuals sharing personal experiences, professional views, organisations representing patients, care home residents, or carers, and care home, hospital, or hospice provider organisations. It is important to note that the survey on visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals, and hospices is limited to England.

[1] Department of Health and Social Care (2025). Call for evidence: Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals, and hospices. Retrieved from

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) encourages inputs from individuals, professionals, organizations, and providers for the review of visiting and accompanying rights in various care settings.
Regulation 9A, introduced in April 2024, mandates that care providers facilitate in-person visits for individuals if no exceptional circumstances arise.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides additional guidance for care providers to make visits easy to arrange and tailored to different care settings and individuals' needs.
Individuals can participate in the DHSC call for evidence by responding to online surveys, written responses, or attending stakeholder engagement events.
The CQC, an independent regulator, oversees compliance with Regulation 9A in England, ensuring standards of care are maintained.
Contributions to the review can influence the future regulatory environment for visits in care settings in England.
The CQC's inspection reports and ratings for care providers of health and social care in England are publicly available.
The DHSC-led review aims to assess if Regulation 9A has effectively ensured visitors for people in care homes, hospitals, and hospices in England.
The call for evidence is still open for personal experiences, professional views, and organizations representing patients, care home residents, or carers.
The survey on visiting and accompanying in care settings is limited to England.
The review process can significantly impact workplace-wellness, especially for those with chronic diseases, respiratory conditions, digestive health issues, or eye health concerns.
The review’s implications extend to mental health, as it can impact the overall health and wellness of individuals in care settings.
Fitness and exercise routines may be affected by the review, as visits from loved ones often serve as motivation for physical activities.
Autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular health, and hearing may also be affected by the review, as proper visits could ease stress levels and improve overall well-being.
In the realm of health and wellness, climate change can affect the environment in care settings, potentially impacting the health of residents.
In the manufacturing industry, employee safety and health are crucial, and the review could impact worker wellness and industrial safety.
The review could also address the importance of therapies and treatments for individuals with medical conditions like cancer or skin conditions.
As the review covers visiting rights in hospices, end-of-life care and palliative care practices may be influenced.
The review’s potential impact on the energy sector includes the consideration of energy consumption in care settings and its effect on the environment.
Finance, including personal and wealth management, could be affected by the review, as financial stability can impact health and wellness.
In terms of lifestyle, fitness, and fashion and beauty, the review could impact retail sales, transportation, and cybersecurity, as these sectors intertwine with personal wellness.
The food and drink industry may be affected by the review, as diet plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle for individuals in care settings.
Investing and home and garden sectors could also be impacted, as people’s health and well-being may influence their financial decisions and home improvements.
Businesses and personal finance could be impacted by the review, as the wellness of their employees may affect productivity and their bottom line.
Banking and insurance may be affected, as the health and well-being of their clients may impact their financial status and insurance premiums.
Data and cloud computing, technology, and artificial intelligence may play a role in improving care services and making the review process more efficient.
Relationships, pets, travel, cars, books, education, shopping, and social media could potentially be impacted by the review, as they all intertwine with a person’s lifestyle and well-being.
Entertainment, politics, pop-culture, sci-fi and fantasy, general news, crime and justice, and accidents could also bear some indirect influence from the review, as they may affect people's lifestyle and overall well-being.

Analysis of CQC Guideline 9A: Access Rules for Care Facilities such as Homes, Hospitals, and Hospices