Winifred, my beloved mother, was a vibrant, independent woman until a tragic incident changed her life. One day, while residing in a care home, she was assaulted by another resident and suffered a broken hip. Following surgery, she was never the same. She lost much of her mobility and independence, and tragically, her health declined rapidly. When she passed away, the coroner determined that the assault had been a significant contributing factor to her death.

As her daughter and a nurse, I am haunted by one question: when someone is assessed as needing one-to-one supervision for their safety, how can families be assured that this critical level of care is actually being provided?

This question has led me to advocate for "Winifred’s Law" in England, a reform that would transform care home safety standards. This law would require that staffing levels match the specific needs of each resident on every shift, ensuring that no person is left vulnerable due to inadequate supervision.

To achieve this, we propose a set of actionable measures:

1. **Mandatory Staffing Levels:** Care homes should be legally required to adhere to staffing standards that meet the assessed needs of their residents. This would mean having enough trained staff to provide one-to-one supervision if it's deemed necessary.

2. **Immediate Action Plans:** In cases where staffing levels unexpectedly fall short, care homes should have a plan in place to address this gap immediately, such as bringing in additional trained staff without delay.

3. **Transparency in Supervision:** Care facilities must maintain and share records that prove assessed one-to-one supervision requirements are being met consistently, allowing families to verify that their loved ones' care needs are being fully addressed.

These changes are not just necessary; they are urgent. Inadequate staffing can lead to accidents, neglect, and, like in my mother's case, tragic outcomes. With an ageing population, more families will rely on care homes to look after their loved ones. It's imperative that we make these environments as safe as possible.

We cannot change what happened to my mother, but by enacting Winifred’s Law, we can prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families. Let's stand together to ensure that all residents in care homes are treated with the dignity and care they deserve.

Please sign this petition to support Winifred’s Law and make England’s care homes safer for our beloved elders.