A MOTHER and daughter have been reunited after 16 weeks apart as visiting restrictions are eased at an Oswestry care home.

Ruth Blinco was able to visit her mother, Joyce Foster, who is a resident at New Fairholme, for the first time since March 16.

Joyce is among a handful of residents at the home operated by Coverage Care Services who have now been reunited with loved ones as the care provider carefully and slowly relaxes its rules around visiting in line with government guidance.

No hugs or kisses took place between Joyce and her daughter because of social distancing protocols, but home manager Imelda Briones said it was ‘truly wonderful’ to see the family back together again.

She said: “It’s been absolutely heart-breaking for our residents and their families to have spent so many weeks apart from each other.

“They’ve been able to maintain contact through Skype calls and telephone conversations but it’s just not the same as being in the same room as each other.

“It’s been so hard for everyone and it’s been truly wonderful to see residents such as Joyce reunited with their loved ones.”

Coverage Care began lifting the restrictions around non-essential visitors last week at three of its homes – New Fairholme, Briarfields in Shrewsbury and the Cottage Christian in Newport.

Further homes are expected to open their doors during the next two weeks as part of a phased programme of re-opening, but this is subject to the results of ongoing whole-home tests.

Homes have been fitted with thermal imaging cameras as an additional safety measure and a strict visiting protocol is in place.

Coverage care chief executive David Coull said: “Closing our homes to family and friends back in March was one of the biggest decisions we’ve ever had to make within the organisation but it was absolutely essential for the safety of all our residents and staff.

“It’s been extremely challenging for residents and their families, but we are both proud of our care teams for doing their upmost every single day to keep spirits high in our homes, and to families for their unstinting support.

“They have been absolute heroes and it’s been just as emotional for them over the last few days to see residents reunited with their loved ones as it has been for the families themselves.

“It has also been a time for us to reflect and our thoughts are of course with those families here in Shropshire who have lost loved ones as a result of the coronavirus infection.”