AN outdoor visiting pod and big screen are just two ways in which residents at a Lymm care home can speak with loved ones.

Keate House Residential Home was recently visited by Care Quality Commission inspectors for a routine check of coronavirus infection prevention and control measures.

At the time of the inspection, there were 45 people living in the Brookfield Road home.

And they were being kept safe by a host of procedures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In their report, inspectors said: “Visitors were able to spend time seeing and speaking with loved ones in various ways, including a visitor's pod outside the home so they did not need to enter the building.

“Where visiting was not possible, other means of communication had been created, including video viewing on the big screen.

“The building had been adapted to ensure good practices of infection prevention and control were maintained.

“A treatment room had been created at the front of the house so that visiting professionals did not need to enter the living area.”

A second staff room has also been created at the home to improve social distancing, while residents required to self-isolate were supported in a designated area of the home with an allocated team of staff.

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“Covid-19 testing was undertaken three times weekly for staff and monthly for residents who were able and willing,” the report adds.

“At the time of the inspection all residents and care staff who had consented had received their first vaccination.

“Stocks of the right standard of personal protective equipment were well-maintained and staff used and disposed of it correctly.

“Staff had been trained in infection control practices and a dedicated member of staff had been seconded into a new role of Covid marshal.”