Joining forces with Herefordshire Council during COVID-19

Published: Tuesday 5th May 2020

Agincare’s home care service has joined forces with Herefordshire Council to provide short-term care and rehabilitation for former NHS patients and members of the local community, as part of the county’s response to the Covid-19 emergency.

The Agincare team is providing the care and support service at The Three Counties Hotel in Hereford, which the council has leased to offer temporary accommodation for up to 46 people during the Covid-19 outbreak. The service will help people get back on their feet after a hospital stay so they can live independently when they return home.

Councillor Pauline Crockett, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Wellbeing said:

“Herefordshire Council has made a significant investment towards providing this additional social care facility for the county. This initiative will assist residents with their recovery and rehabilitation before they return home and will also help to relieve the pressure on the NHS and the social care sector.”

Protective measures have been put in place, including the use of PPE, to ensure the safety of the residents and the staff.

Luke Holmes, Agincare Operations Director:

“Agincare is delighted to be able to support Herefordshire Council and the county’s residents during this difficult time. Our staff on site have all received bespoke training for their roles and with the help of the council we have plenty of PPE readily available for them to use.

This is an example of excellent partnership working between the council, a local hotel and Agincare as a local care provider. The hotel is an ideal environment for residents as it has comfortable, spacious facilities whilst being at a distance from the wider population, so everyone can remain safe within the government’s social distancing guidelines.”

Michelle Standell, Manager of The Three Counties Hotel, said:

“We are pleased to be able to offer our services. Not only is it supporting the NHS and social care sector, it has also resulted in many of our staff being able to come off furlough which, of course, is a very positive outcome for any business in the hospitality sector at the moment.”