A Whitehaven care home is ready to take in residents again after it became coronavirus-free.

The director of Bethany House and Bethshan Nursing Home has also spoken of the difficulties brought by the pandemic and thanked its staff who put their lives at risk to keep supporting residents.

Joy Ditchburn said: “We are very happy to be able to report that both Bethany House and Bethshan Nursing Home are once again completely corona virus free and fully open to take residents in again.

“We are massively sad that we did lose some residents to Covid-19 – it’s always sad when someone we cared for’s life comes to an end but, somehow, when we have lost someone earlier than we might otherwise have done because of this evil scourge it brings a further level of sadness to us all.

“Looking after folks that are entrusted to our care is always hard work at the best of times, especially if along with physical frailty they suffer from mental deterioration. But these past weeks have been particularly hard work for the staff because they have had to work with masks and other PPE on, which has made their task all the harder as it’s been such hot weather for such a lot of the time. Anybody who’s had to work like this will understand this fully.

“We are truly privileged to have such good caring staff to do this important work who have done a marvellous job during this difficult time. It’s really sad and more than a little worrying but we are fully aware that this pandemic is far from over and could rear its ugly head at any moment, however, while we need to keep strict precautions in place, we do need to get back to something resembling normal as soon as government rules allow us to do so. We need to get back to where our residents can once again be visited by their loved ones because that has been one of the other tragedies of this awful time – the fact that their family and friends have not been able to visit the home, especially when a high proportion of those we look after are bed-bound so aren’t even able to go outside or even to the door to meet up with and see them.”

Mrs Ditchburn said residents have been able to virtually see their loved ones thanks to smartphones and tablets.

She added it was heartwarming to see the kindness shown by the community.

“We have had such a wonderful response from the community, people’s kindness has been absolutely astounding, and to the many businesses large and small who have supplied treats for the staff and PPE equipment for free or at a price that would hardly cover their costs, never mind their time, we will never be able to repay them.

“On the dark side of things other companies, not local ones, have made an unfair killing out of this as the cost of our normal PPE supplies has quadrupled.”

Mrs Ditchburn added she was humbled by her staff’s dedication.

She said: “All the staff who work with us at both Bethany House and Bethshan Nursing home have each time they have come to work put their own lives at risk and not only their own lives, but their loved ones as well and for this we are truly humbled and thankful.

“Some of those who work with us looking after the people we are privileged to care for have in a few cases got quite ill with Covid-19 themselves and like many front line health workers one staff member has just got out of hospital after needing two weeks’ care. What can we say to her? Or others who have been quite ill but thankfully have not needed to be hospitalised with it? Sorry you got ill or thanks for what you’ve done doesn’t begin to cover it, does it?

“Society needs to recognise each and everyone of the people on the frontline of care as heroes, which they surely are. For now the immediate crisis appears to be over for Bethany and Bethshan we just hope and pray it stays that way.”