'I'D RATHER BE DEAD THAN PUT IN A HOME'

Campaigner Ruthie Henshall on abject state of our social care system

- Giles Sheldrick

ACTRESS Ruthie Henshall says care quality is now so poor she would rather be dead than dumped in a home.

The West End star, 57, was banned from hugging or holding her mum Gloria, who lived with Parkinson's and dementia before she died aged 87 in 2021. Deeply scarred by the harrowing experience, Ruthie said: "I have already asked my sister, 'Please, take me out'.

"If I have dementia, and I have any capacity, there is no way I am going into a care home because there is no way I am giving that burden to my children. What I witnessed and what went through with Mum was so horrific."

The I'm a Celebrity contestant, who watched on helplessly as her mother passed away frightened, is now a vociferous campaigner for reform in the care sector.

Mum-of-two Ruthie's experience of being locked out as her beloved mother languished in a home during the pandemic shone a spotlight on wildly differing standards of care, and inspired her to speak up for the voiceless.

As diktats enforced on a whim banned thousands of visitors from seeing their dying loved ones, Ruthie joined campaigners Rights for Residents as their ambassador.

'Some people are still not allowed in care homes and that's why we need Gloria's law'

At the time Gloria was isolated and in desperate need of love and support. Today Ruthie continues to fight on behalf of others for unrestricted access and a change in the law in her mother's memory.

Gloria's Law would give everyone a legal right to a care supporter, a close friend or relative, available in all health settings to provide emotional support, advocacy and essential human contact.

The appeal has so far been ignored by ministers of the current and previous governments.

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