Residents at one care home in Mansfield have been enjoying face-to-face reunions with their loved ones thanks to an innovative solution.

Baily House, which cares for 66 older adults, has built a visiting pod that is accessible from the outside of the care home.

Relatives can sit in warmth and comfort and see their loved ones face to face through a clear screen. The pod, known as the ‘Baily Bubble’, cost just £650 to build and the home is already working on building a second, which it hopes to have ready by mid-December.

Ashley Baird, manager at Baily House, said: “We read the government guidance about care home visits on the Monday and had the visiting pod all built by the Thursday. The feedback we’ve had so far has been fantastic. We were offering Skype, video calls and letter writing before, but nothing beats seeing your loved ones face to face – particularly as many of our residents have dementia.”

Paul Haywood was the first visitor to use the visiting pod. He hadn’t seen his grandmother, Joan Coles, face to face since the beginning of this year.

“Being apart from my grandma for 10 months has been very hard, especially with her being 94 and having dementia,” he said. “When Baily House put their Baily Bubble in place it felt like Christmas, New Year and birthdays all rolled into one!

“It was very emotional meeting back up with my grandma after all this time and was I was so grateful, we both were. I cannot thank the staff at Baily House enough. Let’s hope other care homes can do the same.”

Co Coun Tony Harper, Chair of Adult Social Care and Health at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It’s fantastic to hear of innovative ways that care homes are helping residents and relatives be together again after what has been such a difficult time apart. Well done to the management and staff at Baily House for making this happen in a way that is both comfortable and safe.”