Government ministers face a grilling on their failure to deliver Anne’s Law visiting rights for care home residents this week.
Scottish Labour will on Wednesday bring forward a debate amid growing anger Nicola Sturgeon has yet to make good on an election campaign promise almost a year ago.
The First Minister vowed to give essential visitors the same rights as staff to enter care homes even during a pandemic, while following strict infection control measures.
It came after a Sunday Mail campaign to raise awareness of the isolation suffered by residents over lockdown.
Experts believe loneliness could have cost more lives than Covid-19.
Thousands of people in the final stages of life are forced to endure rolling restrictions as a result of virus outbreaks that leave them separated from loved ones for months.
Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Care home residents and their families have been failed during this pandemic.
“But this is far from over. Even now, residents who test positive are forced to isolate for a minimum of 10 days and homes with recorded cases are closed to most visitors for at least a fortnight.
“Heartbroken relatives and lonely residents have been subjected to rolling lockdowns, ending all contact between them for weeks on end – this simply cannot go on.
"That’s why Scottish Labour will bring forward a debate on Anne’s Law in the Scottish Parliament to get justice for the families and service users who are being let down.”
More than 400 responses were received to a two-part government consultation on Anne’s Law – named after dementia sufferer Anne Duke.
Minister for Social Care Kevin Stewart has insisted it will be passed “as soon as is practically possible”.
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