A CARER at a Cumnock nursing home has been praised for going the “extra mile” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leigh Clugston, who is a carer at Bute House Nursing Home, has been nominated by Tracey McMillan as part of Ayrshire Weekly Press and Cunninghame Housing

Association’s bid to highlight those key workers in Ayrshire who have gone above and beyond the call of duty during the coronavirus outbreak.

Tracey’s mum Jessie, 72, has lived in Bute House for two and a half years.

Jessie is registered blind and had a leg amputation which meant she had to move from her own home into Bute House.

Tracey believes that Leigh – Jessie’s key worker - and her fellow carers deserve to be recognised for all the hard work they do.

Tracey said: “My mum has received such a high standard of care from Leigh and all the carers since she moved into the home.

“I feel as if Leigh and all the carers have really gone the extra mile especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The carers understand how difficult a time it has been for families being cut-off from their loved ones because of the lockdown.

“But they have used technology to keep us in-contact with our family by doing FaceTime calls and providing us with photographs and videos of our loved ones.

“Leigh and all the carers have excelled at providing round the clock care in a friendly and compassionate way during these tough times and they have increased daily activities to maintain and enhance wellbeing.”

She added: “I don’t think care workers get enough recognition and sometimes their work is undervalued because a lot of the focus is around the NHS.

“But care staff are working 24 hours a day to look after our family members.”

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