New summer house for Exeter care home visitors

An Exeter care home has taken visiting to a new level with the creation of a dedicated summerhouse for families and friends to use as a dedicated testing area before entering the home to visit their loved ones.

The garden building situated at the front of the Old Rectory Nursing home provides a peaceful place where families can take their lateral flow Covid-19 test and relax for half an hour while awaiting the results.

Manager Kerry Dempsey says: “The summerhouse will be used for one visitor at a time to make it compliant for social distancing and will be thoroughly cleaned in between visitors. This area gives a more comfortable environment for relatives while waiting for their results to come back.”

Ms. Dempsey adds that staff and residents at the home are greatly looking forward to the further relaxation of visiting rules from 12 April, when care home residents in England will be allowed two regular visitors indoors

They will be able to hold hands – but visitors must be tested and wear PPE.