A nursing home in Falmouth is using iPads to enable relatives to face-time residents, following its closure to the public last Friday.

King Charles Court, in Marlborough Road, took the decision to self-isolate following a risk assessment last week.

Registered manager Melissa Jones told the Packet: "We are closed to relatives and visitors to protect the health and welfare of our residents.

"We know how important it is for friends and relatives to keep communicating with our residents, so we have an iPad and an iPhone set up they can face-time for those wishing to speak to them."

Melissa said there had been no cases of coronavirus in the home, but added: "We are able to keep tabs on where our residents and staff have been but the same cannot be said for people coming in from outside, so we took the proactive step of closing, for which we have been praised and applauded by the Care Quality Commission."

Another risk assessment will be carried out in the middle of next week, before a decision is made as to whether the home remains closed to the public.

"We appreciate that visitors will miss the residents so we are doing everything possible to enable them to communication. I will say that relatives have been very understanding and they have agreed with our decision. The health and safety of our residents is of paramount importance," she said.

"We have residents who are more vulnerable than most to coronavirus and it is our responsibility to ensure that their welfare continues to be the priority. We have enough supplies to last for six to eight weeks and we'll review and re-risk assess the situation as it unfolds."

Friends and relatives of the residents can call 01326 311155 and the options of communication, including email, phone and face-time, will be explained.