Care home manager, 55, was SACKED for hosting Christmas Day lunch

Care home manager, 55, is left homeless after she was SACKED for hosting Christmas Day lunch ‘in breach of Covid rules’ – as police threaten to fine residents who took to streets in protest

• Pam Lewis cooked socially-distanced feast for isolated residents at Regal Court 
• She was dismissed for breaking company Covid rules and told to leave the home
• Residents and supportive local people joined a protest against her sacking  

A care home manager has been left effectively homeless after she was sacked for hosting a Christmas Day lunch ‘in breach of Covid rules’ – as police threatened to fine residents who took to the streets in protest.  

Pam Lewis, 55, cooked up a socially-distanced feast for the isolated residents at Regal Court, Trowbridge in Wiltshire, and set tables six feet apart and masks were worn throughout.

But she was dismissed for breaking company Covid rules and told to leave the home where she has lived for 20 months, prompting residents to gather with placards and posters with slogans such as ‘Give us our manager back’ and ‘Money over morals’.

Pam Lewis, 55, cooked up a socially-distanced feast for the isolated residents at Regal Court, Trowbridge in Wiltshire, and set tables six feet apart and masks were worn throughout

Due to lockdown, other residents chose to protest from their rooms with signs stuck to their windows.   

Police attended and told residents that, if repeated, their actions would result in a fine.

A spokesman from Wiltshire Police said: ‘We were called to reports of a small gathering at Regal Court. Officers attended and, on arrival, found that most of the individuals had dispersed.

‘They identified and engaged with them and they were all advised not to gather again as this is not current permitted under the Covid regulations.’

Ms Lewis was dismissed after she gave up her own Christmas Day lunch with family to provide a treat for the lonely residents who would have spent the day alone.

She said: ‘There was a table of three and a table of four, and they were six foot apart. It’s a 30ft by 30ft space, with no door, and the windows were open.

‘The police came on two occasions, at about 9.30am, then again about 4.30pm.

‘The first officer who came was absolutely gobsmacked – she put it down as a malicious report and said ‘please don’t let it ruin your day, you’re not doing anything wrong’.

‘All the residents were going to be all alone for Christmas Day, they had no-one. We even had donations to help support the meal.

‘We had offered to deliver the meals to people’s rooms if they preferred as well.’

Several local people joined the protest in support of Pam, who they said had a reputation for being caring 

FirstPort, which manages Regal Court, said they ‘cannot condone individual actions which break the rules put in place to protect our vulnerable residents.’

The company claims Ms Lewis broke Firstport’s rules when she opened the closed communal lounge when she heard residents would be alone due to government restrictions.

Ms Lewis has worked for FirstPort for three years, and been at Regal Court for 20 months.

She was suspended on January 4 after an investigatory hearing and dismissed on January 15. 

The GMB trade union, which is supporting Pam, had also backed the event.

On Wednesday, people lined the streets with homemade placards and signs, pleading for Firstport to reverse their decision to fire Pam.

Regal Court resident Jean Tolworthy had fashioned her display from a pair of tights and a green tea towel to spell out the words ‘We Want Pam’.

Debbie, whose dad lives in the complex, said many had been aware of the dinner plans and donated to the event.

She said: ‘My father was with me for Christmas, but I’d like to have thought that if he had been alone he would have had Ms Lewis and this dinner.

‘Isolation among older people is a very real thing and she recognised that, this whole situation is far-fetched.’

Andy Newman, Wiltshire branch manager for GMB, said: ‘We want Firstport to sit up and listen, and this is one way of making that happen. I think people power will prevail.

‘FirstPort are worse than Scrooge. At least Scrooge didn’t sack Bob Cratchit for organising a Christmas dinner.’

A group of young people who live next door to Regal Court also made signs.

FirstPort, which manages Regal Court, said they ‘cannot condone individual actions which break the rules put in place to protect our vulnerable residents’

Cole Schwarz said: ‘When we heard the news we were shocked at how she had been treated. We all know how caring Pam is so she doesn’t deserve this. It’s ridiculous that she got fired.’

But a spokesperson for FirstPort echoed their previous position and added: ‘Regal Court is an independent retirement living development, where each apartment constitutes a separate household.

‘Therefore, throughout the pandemic, the communal lounge at Regal Court – as with all similar sites managed by FirstPort – has been closed, in line with company policy and government guidance.

‘Given this clear instruction of lounge closures, we were extremely concerned to hear about this incident.

‘The safety of our residents is our utmost priority. We understand some residents may feel upset, but the development manager breached clear government guidelines, putting residents at risk and undermining wider efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus.’

One letter Ms Lewis received thanked her ‘for everything you’ve done’ and added: ‘You are one of the amazing group of people that have kept the country happy, healthy and sane this year.’

Mell Coates, whose grandmother lives there, said on Facebook: ‘My Nan also lives at Regal Court and has a deteriorating health condition.

‘Pam has been a tower of support for her and our family before, during and since her diagnosis!

‘I cannot thank or praise Pam enough for everything she has done for my Nan and all the other residents of Regal Court. Shame on the people who reported her, and shame on First Port for their decision!!

‘There are very few good and decent people in this world and Pam is most definitely one of them and first port will be hard pushed to find any one as caring and dedicated to their job as her.’

Andy Newman, branch representative for the union GMB, said: ‘What Pam did was what people the length and breadth of Britain did this Christmas. They did what they could for their community and reached out to those in need.

‘The employer has taken a ridiculous view and disregarded the mental wellbeing of these residents.

‘The fact she has been thrown out her home and fired is completely disproportionate to what she did – which was use a lounge without asking permission first.’

Resident Mandy Jones referred to Ms Lewis as a ‘Fairy Godmother’ figure at Regal Court.

She added: ‘She is efficient and popular and has kept all the residents in good spirits. She loses not only her job, but her home, due to an unselfish act of kindness.’

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