Care home in Stockport sets up safe drive-through so residents can enjoy visitors

A care home in Stockport has set up a drive-through for visitors, enabling residents to see their loved ones at a safe distance.

Those living at Sunrise of Bramhall can venture outdoors to a designated spot and speak to their friends and family as they pull up alongside them in a vehicle.

For months, care home residents have been unable to meet others given their high-risk status as a “vulnerable group” for COVID-19 transmission.

Ruth Baggs at Sunrise of Bramhall said the process of helping people see their loved ones again has been a “privilege.”

Speaking to the BBC, she said: “It’s looking at that risk and managing the risk and making sure we are keeping people safe, but also looking at the benefits to people with regards to their mental health and wellbeing.”

The government announced yesterday that staff and residents in care homes across the country can now access coronavirus tests even if they have no symptoms.

Minister for Care, Helen Whately said: “Care homes are on the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 and we are determined that staff have everything they need to keep themselves and their residents safe.

“Opening up whole care home testing to the whole social care sector, regardless of symptoms, means we can prevent and control outbreaks and protect the most vulnerable.”

You can watch the full video of Sunrise of Bramhall’s drive-through facilities captured by BBC North West here.