Heartwarming scenes at Leeds care home as residents get Christmas Day visits from loved ones thanks to successful Covid-19 testing trials

Aspen Hill Village care home, in Hunslet, was able to host 73 visitors this morning after management arranged successful trials of lateral flow testing for coronavirus.

Visitors were tested for Covid-19 and given results within 30 minutes before being allowed into the home wearing personal protective equipment including gowns, gloves and masks.

Care home director Navjot Singh said: "It's been a fantastic success.

"There were a lot of emotional scenes here today.

"Our residents and their loved ones were extremely grateful to get the chance to see each other.

"We were the first care home in West Yorkshire to start using the lateral flow tests on December 3 and our staff have worked very hard to make it a success."

Diane Schofield, from Rothwell, was among those able to visit the care home to see her 87-year-old aunt Mary Kirby.

She said: "It was lovely to see people able to hug and kiss after so long. It's just what we all needed.

"Before now I've only been able to speak to her through a window so it was great to pay a proper visit.

"The staff have been amazing in working so hard to make it happen. They do a brilliant job."

Mary Orme and her son Michael McKimm were able to see their mother and grandmother Rose McKimm, 83.

Mary, from Hunslet, said: "We had a lovely time. It was so well organised and we felt very safe.

"It was the first time mum had seen Michael since February. She was overjoyed to see him. He's always been the apple of her eye.

"Mum has been a resident at Aspen Hill for five years now.

"The staff are really understanding and accommodating.

"We have had plenty of Zoom and Skype meetings arranged for us since lockdown but this was fabulous."