Coronavirus crisis: Spalding day care centre, The Meadows, vows to stay open

A Spalding day care centre took the decision yesterday (Tuesday) to remain open for people .

Liz Walmsley is general manager at The Meadows Day Centre, based in The Meadows, off Park Road.

She said: "We have had a meeting with the chair of the trustees and we have decided that for as long as we are able, and legally able to do so, we will be staying open."

She spoke following Boris Johnson's 'social distancing' announcement on Monday evening - in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

The centre, a charity, cares for people aged from 70 to 100, looking after about 22 people a day from Monday to Friday.

"People come for a bath, have their hair done and there is a chiropodist. If we stop all that what is going to happen?" Liz asked.

"If they do not want to come at the moment, that is their choice - but we will be here for them as long as they want us.

"We are doing extra deep cleaning; and deep cleaning the chairs etc and we have all the hand sanitisers etc. We are doing everything we possibly can to keep people safe."

And Liz added on Tuesday that they had nobody who was unwell at the moment.

The team is also prepared to take meals out to people.

"We will leave them on the doorstep if we need to!" Liz said.

"We do not feel we can leave everybody high and dry. We want to continue to help the vulnerable through the crisis."

Those who have been coming have been showing a real sense of stoic, Liz added.

"It is their lifeline and we do not want to stop," she explained.

She also added that there has not really been any clear guidance from the Government on what care providers should do.

"We are not being told what to do and we are left having to do what we think is morally right and to help people.

"We are a little short of volunteers but we have staff to cover this. We will weather the storm and carry on for as long as we can do it safely."

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