Pressure grows for a new right to a Care Supporter

Over 100 organisations unite in call for a Care Supporters Bill to end isolation in health and care settings

 6/2/25

Over 100 organisations have signed up to support the campaign for a Care Supporters Bill, known as Gloria’s Law, which would grant individuals in need of care the legal right to unrestricted, in-person support from at least one essential care supporter. The campaign, spearheaded by Care Rights UK, Rights for Residents and John’s Campaign, was born out of the widespread suffering and trauma caused by enforced separations during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the issue remains urgent today, as such separations continue to occur in both residential and hospital settings.

The campaign has garnered support from an impressive and diverse coalition of national and local charities, care groups, individual care homes, and support organisations.

Together, these groups represent millions of people who have been directly affected by the separation of individuals from their loved ones in health and care settings.

The proposed Bill would not only benefit people needing care but also help ease the pressure on hospitals and care homes. Essential care supporters can play a vital role in providing both emotional and physical support. They act as interpreters, advocates, and memory-keepers, offering a lifeline to those in need. The Bill is both a moral imperative and a practical solution to improve care standards. 

The campaign has previously received written support from the Prime Minister, raising hopes that the Government will act on this critical issue. Campaigners are now calling for swift action to enshrine the right to an essential care supporter in law, ensuring that no one faces the trauma of enforced isolation again.

104 organisations are backing the right to a Care Supporter, including new sign-ups Compassion in Dying. Usha Grieve, their Director of Partnerships and Services, said:

‘At Compassion in Dying, the people we support tell us that despite best efforts to engage in decisions about medical treatment for loved ones who lack capacity, family and friends are often not invited to participate meaningfully in this process. This can mean people are given treatments they would not have wanted and loved ones tell us they feel guilty that they are not able to successfully advocate for the person they care deeply about. The impact is often significant and leaves a lasting mark on the lives of the people affected. Gloria’s Law would be a crucial step in ensuring the people who know someone best can offer vital support and advocacy when it is needed most.’

We shouldn’t have to fight for this basic right. The Care Supporters Bill would ensure that we can always be supported by someone we trust, to act as our eyes, ears and voice when we need them, across all health and care settings. We urge the Government to make good on their promise and bring this new right into law.

Read more about the campaign and sign our pledge to lend your support.