AN INDEPENDENT care provider with homes in north Shropshire, among other locations, has invested almost £50,000 in state-of-the-art thermal imaging cameras as it prepares to reopen its homes to visitors.

Coverage Care Services owns New Fairholme in Oswestry and Greenfields in Whitchurch, and is installing the cameras at each of its care homes as part of a number of new safety measures.

The high-tech cameras, supplied by Shrewsbury-based Border Communications, will be used to scan and assess the body temperature of every individual entering homes to make sure they are safe to be on the premises.

It is considered to be a less-invasive process than requesting to check people’s temperatures with a thermometer and Coverage Care chief executive David Coull says the camera installation is the right move to help them reopen to visitors.

He said: “Up until now it has been too soon for us to open our doors to visitors.

“However, we have been constantly reviewing the restrictions we have in place and are making preparations to start allowing visitors to some of our homes where the thermal cameras have been installed from Wednesday.

“Other homes will follow next week depending on results and all easements at homes will remain under review.

“The thermal imaging cameras present a significant investment and demonstrates how seriously we take the safety and health and well-being of residents, staff and visitors.

“Anyone coming through our doors will have to agree to having their body temperature scanned and will only be allowed to enter if they have a normal temperature. Any sign of a raised temperature and people will be turned away.

“Other new safety measures include plastic screens in our reception areas and we will have limited visiting arrangements in place. Initially we will only be allowing one family member into the home to visit their family and all visits will have to be pre-booked with homes.

“Designated visiting areas will be set up, outdoors when feasible, otherwise inside and they will be thoroughly cleaned in between each appointment. For the time being we will not be allowing children to visit our homes.

“The safety of residents and staff remains our absolute top priority and we will be monitoring any easement of the restrictions extremely carefully.

“Our staff have worked tremendously hard, our residents have sacrificed seeing loved ones and family members have been hugely supportive.

“We know families are desperate to see their loved ones and we hope the changes we are planning will enable residents to be reunited in a safe and controlled way.”

Homes have strict safety measures in place to prevent and limit the spread of any infection and staff continue to be able to access supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Homes are accepting new admissions and referrals but under strict new guidelines including quarantining arrivals where necessary and anyone with active Covid-19 symptoms will not be admitted.