Camelot House and Lodge, Wellington, receives rapid coronavirus test kits

Camelot House and Lodge resumed close-to-normal meetings between residents and loved ones for the first time in six months yesterday (December 3).

Among the first to be tested and admitted for a personal visit was Ginny Harvey, daughter of resident Pam Boyle.

Bonnie Frear, deputy manager of Camelot House and Lodge, said the reunion was “heart-warming”.

“We have wanted all our relatives’ families to be able to resume visiting them in person and it has been a long time coming,” she said.

“Today has just been amazing. To see Ginny and Pam together again has been really heart-warming.

“The tests that we have had delivered are enough for two visits per week for each resident, plus staff. Hopefully it will start bringing us back into some sort of normality which is what we all want.”

Six team members at the home have undergone approved training and passed competency tests to ensure the new ‘lateral flow’ rapid test kits – which give results in just 30 minutes - are administered in the right way.

The Department of Health and Social Care has said these tests should enable visits to restart in all tiers in all care homes that are free of coronavirus.

Hand-holding and hugging are permitted as long as other infection control measures are followed, although visitors are still asked to minimise contact as far as possible and wear personal protective equipment to help protect the residents.