Three years post-Covid and with 1st June marking the date all remaining Covid restrictions were finally lifted at Bramley House Residential Rest Home in Westcott, Fiona Stappard-Collins, the owner of Bramley House reflects…
“I just cannot thank the team here at Bramley House, our residents, their families and our friends in the local community enough for being so brave and supportive during the hardest three years I’ve ever known in the care sector.
The dedication and diligence of all our staff, who went above and beyond to keep Covid out of our home, has been truly remarkable. I am so proud of each and every one of the team who at all times and in incredibly stressful circumstances demonstrated the very best in good practice and a commitment to providing the highest level of care.
I have no doubt that community action – we had local schools and community support teams making visors for us and arranging food deliveries – coupled with staff dedication saved lives. We haven’t had a single case of Covid amongst our residents during the past three years.
Early on, amongst so much confusion and uncertainty, and through the worst of the outbreak we had to make some very difficult decisions and have the conviction to stand by them. Kelly, our Manager, came under a lot of pressure to accept patients being discharged from hospital in to the care sector. She stood her ground and refused to put our residents and staff at risk. As a management team led by Kelly, we put in a place a set of restrictions that at times – understandable given the intense emotional pressure everyone was under – met with resistance from relatives, especially when other care homes were relaxing precautions, only to reinstate them again when the number of Covid cases spiked.
But our careful and cautious approach has kept our residents safe. They and their families have been so patient and wonderfully understanding. Only now, at the start of this month, have we lifted the last of the restrictions we have been gradually and carefully easing.
I don’t think any of us will ever forget the sacrifices we have all made during the past three years and how much we were forced to adapt. However, now it’s time to be positive about the future and move forward. We’ve certainly got a lot to look forward to here at Bramley House!
2024 will be a double celebration for our residents and our team as we celebrate 40 years of Bramley House being in my family’s ownership and 20 years our Manager, Kelly, has worked here.
I am enormously proud of Kelly and her team and would like to thank them for everything they did to keep Bramley House safe and for everything they do to ensure our residents enjoy living in such a warm and loving home from home.”
Bramley House is a privately owned independent residential rest home situated in beautiful grounds in Westcott, the heart of the Surrey Hills. Bramley House tailors to all levels of residential care needs – from respite breaks and companionship through to dementia care and more complex requirements.
Residents at Bramley House enjoy 24 hour care and support provided by friendly and caring staff, freshly prepared meals, varied activities and outings. There are 16 delightful rooms in the house which is surrounded by glorious gardens which residents and their visitors can enjoy.
01306 740003 / info@bramleyhouse.net
Photo: Members of the Bramley House team and residents on the patio, including Fiona Stappard-Collins, the proprietor of Bramley House (in black top).
