Jenny Harries Visits Care Home to Talk COVID Research

Jenny Harries visited Lansdowne Care Home in Cricklewood, London on Monday 9 May to hear from staff and residents about their experiences of participating in Vivaldi research into COVID prevalence in adult social care during the pandemic.

Jenny was accompanied by Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisory from the Department of Health and Social Care, Michelle Dyson, Director General of Adult Social Care, Laura Shallcross, Vivaldi Principal Investigator and Maria Krutikov, a researcher from UCL involved in the study.

The aim of the visit was to learn about the benefits of this research, and how additional studies could be undertaken in the future to build a positive legacy from the pandemic.

Representatives from the 80 residents and 128 members of staff at the home, which provides nursing care and dementia care, fed back that they found the regular antibody and PCR testing during the Vivaldi study was invaluable and offered mental wellbeing.

Jenny and colleagues met with the care home manager Geoffrey Adour and his team, who shared how the home has been operating throughout the pandemic, including the vital role of their family forum in making local decisions on running the home.

Jenny, Lucy Chappell and Michelle Dyson all noted that improved care should be a strong focus for the department and UKHSA and the importance of keeping the community safe and secure from health risks.

Geoffrey Adour then led a tour of the care home, followed by an informal outdoor awards ceremony in which Jenny, Michelle and Lucy presented staff with certificates for their participation in the study.