Romsey woman holds father's hand for the first time again at Marie Louise House

Since March 8, care home residents have been allowed to hold hands with a regular indoor visitor under plans to ease lockdown restrictions in England.

Now, Rachel Hedges has finally been able to reconnect with her father, Peter Flynn, who lives in Marie Louise House, Newton Lane, after the new rules were rolled out.

She praised the nursing home for how it has handled the pandemic so far, branding coronavirus a "nightmare" for families.

After visiting her 73-year-old father, Rachel said: "I got to hold the hand of my elderly father who I have not been able to touch for a year nearly almost to the day.

"Dad had a stroke two years ago, which left him completely disabled on one side of his body, meaning he is pretty much bed-bound.

"This pandemic has been so tough on him and all others in similar positions who have not been able to be close to their family.

"I thank Marie Louise House massively for the way they have handled this whole nightmare and thank the gods every day that Dad has great people around him in the home, as I haven't been able to see him properly for so long."

Ms Hedges added when she saw her father on March 9, she was allowed to go into his room, "instead of trying to communicate through the glass and be with him in a normal way; it was wonderful".

Under the Government's rules, visitors are required to take a coronavirus lateral flow test before entry and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn.

Residents will be asked not to hug or kiss their relatives, though hand-holding will be permitted.

Outdoor visits – as well as those inside pods or behind screens – will be able to continue, giving residents the chance to see more than just their nominated visitor.

This comes after the Government met its target to offer all care home residents – along with social care and NHS staff, all those aged over 70 and the most clinically vulnerable – a vaccine by February 15.