ONE of the first people to be allowed into a care home to see her 90-year-old mum under a new pilot rapid Covid test scheme has spoken of her joy of being able to see her mother again.

Louise Hendy, 62, of Shute Meadow, Penryn, had not been able to see her mum Dot at King Charles Court care home since the first national lockdown in March.

As her mother had had a massive stroke, speaking to her over the phone or by Skype has proved very difficult.

So Louise was one of the first people to take advantage of the new 30-minute rapid testing at the home that is being piloted at the home in Marlborough Road, Falmouth.

"It was lovely to see her yesterday," said Louise. "I had one of those rapid tests and spent a few hours with mum. It was so nice to do it again. The staff are amazing. With them it is all about the residents.

"It has been quite frustrating. There have been times we have been able to do virtual visits but it is very, very difficult to communicate because mum doesn't speak so well and she has bad hearing so it became frustrating and upsetting for everyone.

"It was lovely, she was really happy to see us. It was so important for us to be with her and be very tactile, speaking over the telephone or Skype is more upsetting.

"I gave her manicure did her nails and we had lunch. It was lovely to do it was so important for us to visit."

King Charles Court Nursing Home is one of only 20 care homes in the country to be chosen for a pilot scheme giving rapid testing to families.

The home currently has 29 residents, aged in their late 60s up to the eldest resident at age 104.

Provided they test negative, the test will give families greater access to their loved ones, with unlimited length visits and limited physical contact, such as hand-holding, while still wearing PPE.

Families will need to book a time slot to arrive at, 30 minutes before their visit time. They will then take the test and get the results 30 minutes later.