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THE manager of a Johnstone care home is going above and beyond the call of duty during the coronavirus lockdown...by sleeping in a caravan in the car park.
Kind-hearted Rebecca Gallagher moved into the caravan outside Lancefield Care Home so she could be nearer to her work as she plugs a gap caused by staff illness.
She was generously offered use of the temporary digs by Johnstone woman Christine Speers.
Rebecca, 64, said she has been thrilled by the support shown to the care home by the local community.
She told The Gazette: “Whether it’s the people at Domino’s who are providing food for carers or those at Morrisons who delivered Easter eggs to all of our residents free of charge, right down to flowers being delivered or John Marshall and Sons providing breakfast every day, it’s been amazing.
“Johnstone has really come into its own. Even though we are not getting proper recognition from the government, we are getting it from the shops and the town. It is humbling.”
Rebecca also paid tribute to her staff at Lancefield Care Home, describing their efforts during the Covid-19 crisis as “outstanding.”
“They have all packed bags and those are in a room, ready in case we do need to close down, if we are unfortunate enough to get the virus here,” she said.
Christine, whose 81-year-old dad Ian Corscadden is a resident at the care home, in Rankine Street, is also full of praise for the Lancefield team.
She said: “I volunteered to give Rebecca my caravan and now she’s there 24 hours a day, sleeping in the caravan at night. If that’s not showing dedication towards her residents and our loved ones, I don’t know what is.
“It’s an amazing thing and shows you how much the staff care about the residents they are looking after, who are all elderly and vulnerable.
“It’s sad that there isn’t so much recognition of a lot of the other things that are happening in our community, especially in Johnstone.
“Renfrewshire isn’t a big area and people need to be recognised for the work they do.”
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