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Thirteen home care dementia patients were SAVED despite displaying coronavirus symptoms after the heroic nurse who worked during the swine flu crisis used her experiences to contain the outbreak
- Maria Spollin became an advanced life support specialist during the swine flu crisis
- Her experience saved 13 dementia patients at Church Farm Skylarks, Nottingham
- Retired Army Brigadier Peter Stevenson was the first resident to contract the virus
- He recovered and celebrated his 86th birthday when the house was virus free.
- Here we show you how to help people affected by Covid-19
A heroine nurse who worked during the swine flu crisis has saved the lives of 13 dementia patients.
Maria Spollin runs the Church Farm at Skylarks in West Bridgford, Nottingham, where she helped 13 residents recover from the coronavirus.
Five of the 50 residents tested positive for the virus on March 22, and eight more showed symptoms.
Maria worked for 20 years at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, and during the 2009 swine flu epidemic, and used those experiences to help her dementia patients.
Maria Spollin (pictured) saved the lives of 13 dementia patients at Church Farm in Skylarks after using the advanced life-support knowledge she learned during the 2009 swine flu epidemic
Five of the 50 residents tested positive for the virus on March 22, and eight more showed symptoms.
Maria said: “It was a very difficult decision to make, weighing the consequences if someone had not contracted the virus but was content with people who had contracted it, possibly putting them at risk.”
She added that she was “relieved” that her actions saved the patients and that she was proud of her team.
Older people are at increased risk for contracting coronavirus, but as of April 23, all 13 patients had fully recovered and the care home was declared virus free.
During her time at Glenfield Hospital, Maria became a specialist in advanced forms of life support.
Ten of the 13 Church Farm residents at Skylarks in West Bridgeford, Nottingham, who recovered from the coronavirus
Using his accumulated knowledge during the swine flu crisis, he used zoning at home.
This meant, with the permission of the families, isolating the people who had the virus and turning the community area of the house into a makeshift room.
Church Farm Skylark manager Helen Walton said: “With a nursing home, you know there is a good chance that the coronavirus will arrive. Maria had discussed with us what we should do to be well prepared.
“When five residents tested positive, they were immediately isolated in a common room that we had converted into a makeshift room with beds.
Retired Army Brigadier Peter Stevenson (pictured), who served with the Scottish Borderers, was the first resident to contract the virus after developing a cough and sore throat.
Her daughter Julia Murphy (pictured) said: ‘We are incredibly blessed to have such a fabulous team here. I’m so relieved that everyone is getting better
“We had explained to the families in advance what we intended to do and everyone was happy about it.
“Four staff members worked 24 hours to care for the sick. Those staff were isolated from their coworkers and other residents to help prevent the spread of the virus. They worked very hard, changed clothes and bedding, and made sure hygiene was of the highest standard. His professionalism was magnificent ”.
Retired Army Brigadier Peter Stevenson, who served with the Scottish Borderers, was the first resident to contract the virus after developing a cough and sore throat.
It celebrated its 86th birthday the same day the house was declared free of coronavirus.
Her daughter Julia Murphy said, “Dad, he was 86 years old and he hadn’t been well at all last year when he had a heart attack out of nowhere. He was thinking,” Oh, Lord, I can’t even go see him to say goodbye “
“We are incredibly blessed to have such a fabulous team here. I am so relieved that everyone is improving.”
The makeshift room in the house has been thoroughly cleaned and prepared in case the virus returns.
