Relatives of care home residents are telling the Scottish government it is time to let them visit their loved ones.

After almost 11 months, many are still only seeing vulnerable relatives through windows or outside, if at all.

The Scottish government says new guidelines on visiting are “imminent”.

But MSPs are due to consider a petition on Wednesday calling for one designated visitor per care home resident to be allowed.

National Records of Scotland statistics show that since restrictions were first introduced in March 2020, 14,273 residents have died inside Scottish care homes.

Call to improve ‘cruel’ care home visiting rules
What went wrong in Scotland’s care homes?
Covid has been a factor in one in five of the deaths but relatives fear many more have been caused by the isolation their loved ones have felt over the past year with many simply just giving up.

With almost all care home residents having had their first vaccine dose, families are hoping for good news on visiting.

‘Nobody puts their relative in a care home expecting never to see them again’