There were smiles all round a Newcastle care home on Monday as for the first time in almost three years, residents and carers were finally able to see each other face-to-face without a face covering.
Eothen Homes, in Gosforth, along with other care homes across the country, introduced mandatory face masks in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Previous guidance said masks should be worn in care homes by staff at all times, but new guidance means wearing of masks is now at the discretion of homes.
Management at Eothen Homes carefully analysed the risks and decided to remove face masks for the first time on Monday. And manager Ebbw Ralph said "everyone was beaming" when staff counted down from three and removed their masks.
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Ebbw said: "We're really delighted that the masks have finally gone. I feel that we were the last sector to get back to normal, now we feel part of the normality again.
"It's been a tough, tough, old three years for the residents and the staff.
"A lot of our residents have probably never even seen the staff's faces for so many years and now all the smiles when we took the masks off... everyone was beaming."
Ebbw added that wearing masks was at times restricting for communicating with residents, particularly those who are deaf or hard of hearing and can't lip read. But removing the masks will make it easier to communicate with all residents.
Eothen chief executive Jenny Hearl said: "This is huge news for us. We have been waiting for forever and a day to hear this, and we are so glad the time has finally come. It is the best Christmas present for our wonderful staff and residents."
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