I don't want to die alone - do you?

I don't want to die alone - do you?

Started
28 August 2020
Petition to
Signatures: 276,361Next Goal: 300,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Jenny Morrison

Please support the Rights for Residents Campaign for “Gloria’s Law” (the Care Supporters Bill) because whatever's happening in the world outside, if we're in a care home or hospital, we should have the legal right to be supported by the person who knows us best.

West End performer and actress Ruthie Henshall lost her own mum Gloria, after witnessing her decline from the other side of a care home window. Her mum was denied the support and love she deserved, at the end of her life, when she needed it most. Tragically, she passed away after many months of isolation and separation from her daughters. As the Ambassador for the Rights for Residents Campaign, Ruthie wants to change the law, so that when we’re scared or dying, we will always have the chance to hold the hand of a loved one.

The government have introduced new secondary legislation to strengthen visiting in care settings, via the CQC regulations. However, this will not give me a legal right to have an essential care supporter by my side, when I’m at my most vulnerable. 

We need to force the government to pass Gloria’s Law (the Care Supporters Bill) because:

  • We need to know that the person we love and trust can always advocate for us.
  • Guidance shouldn’t dictate when we can be supported by our closest loved one
  • Without this law our rights are not protected – guidance cannot be enforced.
  • I don’t want to die alone – do you?
  • We want to hold our loved one's hand when we're scared or dying.

These things are NOT a given. The pandemic showed we can be stripped of our rights at any time. We’ve witnessed the catastrophic impact that separation had on vulnerable people during the pandemic and we cannot risk history being repeated.

As an amendment to the existing National Health Service Act, Gloria's Law would be easy and quick to implement:

  • The Bill has huge cross party support in Parliament
  • It would cost nothing to implement, and the value to all of us is incalculable.
  • Over 70 major charities, health organisations, corporate care providers and care associations have publicly signed up in support of this legal right.
  • Our petition already has almost 300,000 signatures – demonstrating huge public support.

The Care Supporters Bill has been proposed by Dan Carden (Labour) working in partnership with Tracey Crouch (Conservative), Daisy Cooper (Lib Dem) and Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru)

Every signature makes a difference so please sign and share with your own family and friends.

Thank you for signing.

Organisations supporting our call for Gloria's Law:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support now
Signatures: 276,361Next Goal: 300,000
Support now
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