Nurses are rising to the challenge of keeping patients and families in touch, especially at the end of life

Until just a few months ago, intensive care units (ICUs) were typically much less restrictive about visiting than other wards – it would have been unthinkable to deny relatives the chance to be at their loved ones’ bedside. Now, as we all know, the world is changed. Although some hospitals are doing their best to make visiting possible, particularly at the end of life – indeed, England’s health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said in April that this should be done ‘wherever possible’ – the situation on the ground is that, in many cases, it simply isn’t happening.