Cornish care home reunites 18 families in two weeks thanks to pilot for rapid testing
The scheme means residents can see their loved ones
A care home in Cornwall has reunited 18 families in just two weeks thanks to a pilot for rapid testing visitors for coronavirus.
King Charles Court nursing home in Falmouth is one of four across the Duchy taking part in the scheme.
It means people can visit their loved ones
If successful the scheme could be further rolled out across Cornwall and the country in time for Christmas.
Cornwall care homes among first in country to trial regular testing for safe family visits
Melissa Jones is the manager at King Charles Court, she says there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"It's very emotional, the first visitor we had in, she really is a lovely lady and she hadn't seen her mum for a very long time. They both broke down crying.
"It is just lovely, and what is lovely is to hear the voices of visitors in our care home again.
"Visitors are such a massive ingredient into our home, and it's what makes us special. So the last eight months have been very difficult not having them here with us, working with us, laughing with them, crying with them.
"It's just been a very odd eight months."
Melissa Jones, manager at King Charles Court in Falmouth
How does the scheme work?
The new trial run by the Department of Health and Social Care offers regular testing to one designated family member or friend per resident at the pilot care homes, which – when combined with other infection-control measures such as PPE – support safe visits.
These enable, where possible, indoor visits while reducing the risk to care home residents, staff and visitors.
Visitors are being offered new, rapid, lateral flow tests (LFTs), which can be administered in person at the care homes before a visit.
The pilot is taking place in local authorities with lower transmission rates to ensure it can be done as safely as possible and care staff are being trained to ensure tests are administered safely and accurately.
The four care homes in Cornwall taking part in the pilot are King Charles Court in Falmouth, Roseland Court in Tregony, North Hill in St Austell and Hillcrest House in Looe.
If successful, and dependent on latest transmission rates data, the trial would be rolled out more widely in December in time for Christmas.