Complaint
The programme led with a report about a campaign for the removal of Covid restrictions on visits to family-members in care homes and included an interview with the person promoting the campaign.Β A viewer complained that the report did not reflect the views of those who supported restrictions on visits to care homes during the pandemic, and that the intervieweeβs closing remark, which implied that lack of visiting caused additional deaths, went unchallenged by the reporter.Β The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔβs standards of due impartiality.
Outcome
The interviewee concluded by arguing that the re-introduction of βlockdownβ restrictions would result in βmore deaths, and not only from Covidβ.Β In the ECUβs view, this amounted to an observation that isolation from family could contribute to mortality among care home residents, and was not so contentious as to require challenge.Β However, the intervieweeβs stance in favour of abolishing restrictions was a controversial one.Β The ECU noted that there was no reflection of a contrary view in the report itself and that, although Look North had covered the issues relating to care homes during the pandemic from a range of perspectives, there was no item within the relevant timeframe which could be regarded as providing balance on the question of restrictions on visiting.Β Accordingly, the ECU upheld that aspect of the complaint.
Partly upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the management of ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ England and discussed with the relevant programme-makers.