Campaigning daughter Martina Derry urges Stormont to back Ursula's Law because families 'belong together in care'
A campaigning daughter has urged the First and Deputy First Ministers to back Ursula’s Law after her mum died during the Covid pandemic.
Martina Derry was devastated she couldn’t be with her mum Ursula who was in a nursing home at the start of the Pandemic. Mrs Derry later died in January 2021 from Covid-19 at Craigavon Hospital.
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Martina started this campaign for Ursula’s Law in memory of her mum, bereaved families and all those that were not allowed to be with a loved one or friend during the pandemic ‘when they needed human contact and compassionate care the most - whether in hospital, care homes or hospices’.
Martina explained: “Ursula’s Law would provide individuals with a legal right to have meaningful contact (with a care partner). Something I’ve been passionate about since I started a human rights legal challenge over the visiting restrictions in July 2020."
Her ambition is go beyond care homes. “It would mean a woman giving birth could have their birthing partner in maternity services, you could accompany someone to a cancer appointment, assisting someone with dementia, helping a friend at hospital who has been diagnosed with a debilitating disease or suffers cognitive impairment or just holding someone’s hand at end of life.
"Ursula’s Law would ensure no one dies alone. This is for everyone receiving care in care settings.”
Martina is concerned that, as in many cases during the pandemic, guidance wasn’t followed in hospitals and care homes regarding enforced separation or isolation.
“Guidance doesn’t cut it for people. People need primary legislation in place now to avoid any confusion, inconsistencies or discretion now or in the future.
"I’ve no doubt people across the province are still experiencing being locked out from attending a hospital appointment with someone they care for or if there’s an outbreak in a care home - visiting is stopped. Why? Likely because this became a norm during the pandemic and is accepted by a lot of people. If someone doesn’t want a care partner - that’s fine. However if an individual does - visiting needs to be a legal right.
"I know I’ll never bring my mummy back but justice during the UK-wide Covid Public Inquiry for me is legislating care partners - introducing Ursula’s Law.
"We need executive leadership. Ministers have an opportunity to lead the UK on this and put protections in place for people.”
Martina is due to meet the First and Deputy First Ministers this month and has sent both a briefing paper outlining how Ursula’s Law would work.
She is seeking a commitment to introduce Ursula’s Law as stand alone primary legislation establishing a statutory right for individuals to a designated Care Partner across all health and social care settings.
She also wants interim administrative measures requiring all Trusts and providers to comply fully with existing Care Partner guidance, supported by clear reporting mechanisms for non-compliance.
Furthermore she is seeking confirmation that Ursula’s Law will form part of the Executive’s formal response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 3 Recommendation 2.
Martina is also asking for an assurance of cross-departmental support, including allocation of legislative time, to ensure the Bill’s passage.