By Isle of Wight Observer
The dedication and commitment of staff at the Victoria House Care Home in Ryde, has been highlighted on national television.
Nine staff members have been camping out at the care home after Victoria House manager Claire Leggett decided to lock down the premises, believing that was the safest way to look after the 20 residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
The heroic efforts of the Victoria House staff were highlighted today on ITV programme ‘This Morning’ hosted by Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford.
Manager Claire, accompanied by fellow staff members Holly Stringer and Joe Checkley-Hill, was interviewed by Eamonn and Ruth via satellite, and she explained how she asked nine members of the 31-strong staff to stay on site, with some of them sleeping in tents in the grounds of the care home overnight.
She said: “We have 20 residents, and I was really concerned about COVID-19, so I decided to lock the home down, and ask the staff to move in. I felt it was the only option, so nine of us are living in. I went through the staff list, and looked at everyone’s commitments, and personal circumstances, before narrowing it down to nine staff who all said yes.”
Eamonn and Ruth were full of admiration for all the staff who had agreed to stay on site, and gave them some very welcome news. They revealed that to save any of them the hassle of having to go out food shopping for residents and staff, supermarket company Iceland had come forward to say they wanted to help. They have arranged a special delivery to the care home, with a free shop worth £250, and will also make weekly deliveries for as long as they are needed.
