A BOURNEMOUTH man has gifted care home staff a medal to thank them for their tireless efforts looking after his wife during the pandemic.

Martin Butler, 62 wanted to find a long-lasting way to thank staff and decided to give staff at Muscliff Care Home a Heroes of 2020 Pure Silver Medals made by Sterling Mint.

Martin and wife Georgina, 64, have been married for 21 years, living in Bournemouth. In November last year Georgina needed to go to a care home, meaning that when the coronavirus hit, the couple were apart and unable to see each other.

Martin said: “I had been buying flowers for the staff, but they don’t last long, chocolates get eaten and then you have nothing to show for it after.

“I wanted to give the staff something they could keep forever so that they knew how much they had done for me, which is when I saw the medals.”

Lockdown has been a struggle for many in care homes across the UK with many residents separated from their loved ones due to the risk of transmitting the coronavirus to vulnerable people and their carers.

Early figures have shown that one in 16 care home residents have already been killed by the coronavirus pandemic.

This has been a source of worry for many Brits who have been unable to visit family and friends who live in care, with many forced to rely on staff in a way they hadn’t had to before.

Matron at Muscliff Care Home in Bournemouth Dedrey Charles, who received the medal from Martin said: “Receiving the medal was a big morale boost for the staff here. We have received many thank you gifts from families and this one will join the “Wall of Appreciation” forever as a reminder of all the hard work staff did and continue to do during the pandemic.”

Dedrey said that she has been impressed with the amazing teamwork shown by the staff, who rose to the challenges presented by Covid-19.

Dedrey added that the whole team had pulled together and everyone had played their part to ensure the residents were cared for and felt supported. Thanks to this teamwork the virus has been kept at bay.

Family are now able to visit the care home, as long as social distancing is observed, meaning Martin was able to gift the medal to staff in person.

The nurses and carers medal is one of 12 new  Heroes of 2020 Pure Silver Medals by Specialist coin and medal company, Sterling Mint. The medals are raising money for the NHS Charities Together fund, by donating all profits from sales; the company is hoping to raise £2,000,000 overall.

Simon Mellinger, the Managing Director of Sterling Mint, said: “Martin’s story really hit home for us just how big a difference our frontline workers have been having in reuniting families and loved ones, safely.

“We know that the pandemic has brought core issues like pay, resources and working conditions to the fore – and that a medal is no replacement for these things.

“But by thanking our key workers and donating all profits to the NHS Charities Together fund, we hope we can help those who have helped so many other people.”

Key workers featured on the front of the medals are doctors, nurses and carers, ambulance crews, NHS volunteers, pharmacists and pharmacy workers, police, the armed forces & reservists, firefighters, teachers, prison officers and essential workers.