Falmouth care home King Charles Court have expressed their delight in being included in the trial for regular testing.

King Charles Court, Marlborough Road is among 20 residential care homes across the country taking part in the government trial to reunite residents with their relatives and friends.

The new trial run by the Department of Health and Social Care started last week and offers regular testing to one designated family member or friend per resident at the pilot care homes.

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.

If successful, and dependent on latest transmission rates data, the trial would be rolled out more widely in December in time for Christmas.

Melissa Jones, King Charles Court resident manager, said:

"We were thrilled to be part of the new testing of visitors pilot and have already seen many long-overdue emotional and happy reunions. The positive impact this has already had on our residents' mental wellbeing is immeasurable.

"We hope that this service will be rolled out to all care homes as soon as possible."

Click here to see more from King Charles Court.

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