Care home 'cannot wait' to reopen visitors pod

Residential care home Rayner House has said that they "cannot wait" to reopen and reuse a visitors pod, installed at the home, for residents and their relatives once Covid restrictions ease.

The pod was only used for a few short weeks in December, before Government restrictions barred indoor visits earlier this month.

Rayner House residents were able to see family and friends in a Covid secure manner by using the pod, as the pod separates residents and visitors by a glass screen and separate entrances.

One relative who visited a resident in December, said: “Having had the chance to visit the pod once, on Christmas Eve, it was brilliant to see my Nan for the first time since March in person!

"What a great Christmas present. From arriving in the car park to entering the pod I felt completely safe and the staff have done a fantastic job in facilitating the use of this for relatives. Full PPE was supplied and Covid safety followed, it gave great comfort that Nan has been in good hands.

“Thank you for all the hard work that was put into setting up, creating and building the visitors pod in the conservatory at Rayner House. After such a long time not seeing our loved ones in person this pod has been a real boost to residents and their relatives. I was so excited to be visiting my mum in person after such an awfully long time and her face lit up when she saw me in the pod. It gave me great comfort to see mum was coping well. I was able to show mum photos through the screen of her great grandchildren and she felt she was more connected with the rest of the family."

Rayner House has said that after the health crisis, the pod will be used as a sweet shop for residents and relatives.

Katie Davis and Jess Jukes, two night care staff, have conceived designs and decoration to bring the sweet shop to life.

EH Smith Builders Merchants and E J Gilbert and Sons provided building materials for the pod, which was constructed by Bickford Building Services.

Pictured: The visitors pod, as a sweet shop, at Rayner House