Headingley care home staff and residents glad to 'see the light' after first dose of Covid vaccine following bad outbreak

After "a bad time" in October with a Covid outbreak at Anchor's Halcyon Court care home, all residents and carers who wanted the vaccine received their first dose on January 16.

They were all offered the vaccine and there was only one lady resident at the care home who didn't want to have it.

If residents were unable to give consent to having the vaccine, the care home obtained consent from resident's families who were "really positive" about the vaccinations.

Ann Paul is one resident at Halcyon Court who did have the vaccine. She said: “I’m so pleased to have received the vaccination.

"The care team have been doing a wonderful job of looking after us and having the vaccination provides an extra layer of protection and peace of mind.”

The care home had been offering garden visits to families during the summer but two months ago were able to start offering indoor visits using Lateral Flow Covid testing.

Visitors were given a test which offered results within half an hour, and those who did not have the virus were allowed to enter the care home in a separate room through an external door and see their resident relative behind a screen.

Anchor’s Halcyon Court care home offers support for older people who have residential and dementia care needs and some of the residents with dementia were said to have struggled with not being allowed to touch their families, often exclaiming 'I want a hug' during the visits.

But, despite the lack of physical contact, the Wellness Coordinator of the care home, Jo Bailey, said the residents had responded "really positively" to at least being able to see their families.

Jo added: "The residents were a million times better after receiving family visits.

"We had quite a big Covid outbreak a few months back and one or two of our residents went into hospital but we were able to keep the majority at the care home and look after them there.

"It was difficult, staff got it and they were really eager to get back to work, but we got through it and now the staff and residents have been able to have the vaccine everyone is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel now.

"We've still got a while to go until that end is here but it's a start after what has been an awful year."

There are 53 beds at Halcyon Court care home and currently 40 residents.

Kala Jessop, Manager of Halcyon Court said: “The vaccination roll-out has gone really well, and we are delighted that care home residents and workers are being prioritised.

“Our residents have received their vaccination along with our care colleagues and it means that they can keep safe, be there for their family and friends and prevent the virus from spreading further.”

Part of the Government’s plan is to prioritise care home residents and carers as part of its vaccination roll-out programme.